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AUTHOR: 
 
 LAW, EDMUND, LORD 
 
 BISHOP OF CARLISLE 
 
 TITLE: 
 
 CONSIDERATIONS ON 
 THE THEORY OF... 
 
 PLACE* 
 
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\ 
 
 Class^\Q Bookie I 
 
 Columbia College Library 
 
 Madison Av. and 49th St. New York. 
 
 Besiifc the main tnf^irthi's book also treats of 
 Subject No. On pafre \ Subject No. On f>a^e 
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 li- 
 
 THEGRT of RELIGION. 
 

 •»., '•»• 
 
 
 4'^ 
 
 
 'J 
 
 ' 
 
 fc5».- 
 
 ,i 
 
 •■ m 
 
 
 
 \,- 
 
 
 CONSIDERATIOl^S 
 
 ON THE 
 
 THEORT of RELIGION: 
 
 IN THREE PARTS. 
 
 I. Want of Univerfality in Natural and Reveal'd 
 Religion, no juft objeftion againft either. 
 
 II. The fcheme of Divine Providence with regard to 
 the "time and Manner of the feveral Difpenfations of 
 Reveal'd Religion, more efpecially the Chriftian. 
 
 III. The Progrefs of Natural Religion and Science, or 
 the continual Improvement of the IVorld in general. 
 
 To which are added,] 
 
 TWO DISCO U R S E S; 
 
 ^ The former,ontheLiFEandCHARACTERof CHRIST; 
 ^ the latter, on the benefit procured by his Death, in 
 reo-ard to our Mortality. 
 
 With an APPENDIX, 
 
 Concerning the ufe of the word SOUL in Holy Scripture i and 
 the (late of the Z)Wthere defcribed. 
 
 THE SIXTH EDITION, 
 
 VCORRECTED, AND MUCH ENLARGED, 
 
 By EDMUND, Lord Bishop of CARLISLE. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, 
 
 Printed by J. Archdeacon, Printer to the UNIVERSITY; 
 
 For J. RoBsoN, in New Bond-Street, B. White, in Fleet-Street, 
 T. Cadell, in the Strand, London; and T.&J. Merrill, 
 
 in Cambridge. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXIV. 
 
P^KUJf 
 
 ■'(1 
 
 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 AND MOST REVEREND 
 
 ^ 
 
 FREDERICK, 
 
 LORD ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY, 
 
 THESE DISCOURSES 
 
 i 
 
 ARE WITH ALL RESPECT 
 AND DEFERENCE INSCRIBED, 
 
 By his G R A c e's 
 
 Very dutiful 
 
 ^i '_ 
 
 
 And much obliged 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 EDMUND, CARLISLE; 
 
 57809 
 
\-v 
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TH E following difcourfes were originally 
 part of a larger defign, tending to ftiew 
 that arts and fciences, natural and revealed reli- 
 gion, have upon the whole been progreflive, from 
 the creation of the world to the prefent time ; as 
 alfo that they have been fuited to each other, as 
 well as to the circumftances of mankind, during 
 each eminent period of this their progreflion. A 
 theory, which, when fairly reprefented, might 
 be fuppofed to give fome fatisfaftion to many 
 thoughtful perfons; who being convinced of the 
 exiftence and attributes of one fupreme firft caufe, 
 yet are fo unhappy as to entertain ftrong preju- 
 dices againft every kind of Revelation from him ; 
 chiefly on account of the circumftances, under 
 which it feems to have been communicated -, which 
 they are unable to reconcile with the courfe and 
 order of Divine Providence in other refpe6ls : as 
 well as to affift fome ferious enquirers, who are 
 perhaps equally at a lofs in their fearch after any 
 fettled order, in either of thefe Eftablifhments : 
 but yet, if they could once perfuade themfelves 
 in general, that one of thefe proceeded in fome 
 fort of uniform ?-atio, and analogy with the other ; 
 and that both were in a ftate of progrejjion ; would 
 probably have patience to wait a while, in hopes 
 of feeing their particular objeftions gradually re- 
 moved in each, by the fame rules. 
 
 Having formerly attempted to clear up fome 
 of the chief difficulties that occur in our concep- 
 
 a 4 tions 
 
 Library of David King. 
 Leavitt & ^^n. May 21 1384 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 • • 
 
 Vil 
 
 tions of the Deity, and his Providence, in a com- 
 mentary on Archbifliop Ki?2gs Eflay on the Origin 
 of Evihy I have fmce had the pleafure of feeing 
 thofe principles which were originally advanced 
 there, adopted by a late celebrated writer; and 
 adorned v/ith all the graces of poetry. This is a 
 continuation of the fame defign, oi jiiflifying the 
 ways of God to man: and from the very nature of 
 that defign, however imperfe6lly executed, there 
 is fome ground for hoping that it may flill find 
 the fame favourable regard, without any more 
 particular apology. 
 
 The 7iot€s are chiefly calculated for a common- 
 place, or Index 'y to dire6l the induftrious reader 
 to fuch authors, more efpecially among the mo- 
 derns, as might furnifh him with as juft and pro- 
 per obfervations or hints on each head, as I could 
 think myfelf capable of producing; what cha- 
 ra6ler foever fome of them may bear among the 
 learned. And indeed, provided the notions were 
 but good and fcafonable, I have not been very 
 folicitous under whofe name, or in what place, 
 and manner, they appeared. It muft be con- 
 fefled, that even fome of the loweft clafs fome- 
 times have feveral ufeful things not to be met 
 with elfewhere; though few would think it 
 worth their while to feek there for them ; which 
 tends (according to the obfervation of an eminent 
 writer) to fliew x\\q benrfit of general readifig : nei- 
 ther would it be quite fair to borrow any thing 
 from fuch, without a due acknowledgement; nor 
 can we be underftood to anfwer for any of them, 
 ^ farther 
 
 i 
 
 farther than the point reaches, for which they 
 were exprefsly cited, or referred to. W here any 
 thing feemed neceffary to be added or fupplied, 
 it will be found either introducing thefe ; or in- 
 termixed among them, as occafion offered: and 
 in purfuance of this humble plan, the inferting 
 all new writers as they came forth, or fell in my 
 way, fmce the firft imprefiion, muft occafion moft 
 of thofe alterations and additions that have hi- 
 therto been made. P^or whenever any new ob- 
 fervations, relative to the main fubje6l occurred 
 to me; and it is hardly to be fuppofed, but that 
 in a courfe of years fome fuch fliould occur; the 
 fetting them down feemed a debt due to the pulD^ 
 lick, and will prove fo, if they are really of confe- 
 quence; if not, the doing it muft be deemed 
 lefs prejudicial to thofe pcrfons who are poiTeiicd 
 of any former edition. 
 
 As for the two Difccurfes annexed ; the firmer 
 ought to be confidered as confifting only of a few 
 loofe traites, or general refleftions, on a fubjecT: 
 which can never be too much attended to; and if 
 It contain any valuable obfervations, either fpe- 
 culative, or praftical, or of a mixed kind; how- 
 ever obvious they may appear, 'tis hoped they 
 will be no lefs acceptable for their general ufe : 
 part of the latter pretends to nothing more, than 
 a brief reprefentation of the Scripture-Boarine 
 on a point not yet fufficiently underftood ; and 
 from the reception that and fome other points 
 of the like kind feem lately to have met with, 
 It may be perhaps a part of Chriftian pru- 
 
 lei 
 
 ic. 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 dence not to deliver fuch more explicitly; till 
 men appear more willing to fubrait their vain 
 philofophy to the authority of God's word, and 
 are difpofed to examine things with greater im- 
 partiality. 
 
 The Fourth Edition was in the Prefs at a 
 diftance, when Mr. Peters s new Preface came to 
 hand ; which hindered me from acknowledging, 
 in due time and place, the juftice he has done in 
 fome meafure to the memory of Le Clerc, by cor- 
 lefting a grofs error of the prefs in that learned 
 Author's comment on Job xix. 25. and thereby 
 fetting the whole paffage in a proper light. I am 
 forry that what was hinted on the fubjecl:, fliould 
 have given this worthy Gentleman any diftur- 
 bance ; which therefore, after his own example, I 
 have ftruck out; and heartily wilh, that we could 
 come to as good an agreement on another point, 
 viz. the future condition of the generality of hea~ 
 thens; whom he ftiU fuppofes to be left for ever in 
 theftate of death, fo as never more to rife, to bappt- 
 nefs at leaf, p. 3 1 • Whereas. I would have them 
 left indeed to the uncovenanted mercies of our 
 common Father, without any certain title to im- 
 mortality; (which I had been endeavounng to 
 prove from feveral fuch paflages as he there 
 mentions, viz. Pf. cxv. 17. and Efh.n.12. which 
 prove mankind to be naturally fubjed to a tem- 
 porary ftate of Jilence, or infenfibility by Death, 
 and confequently deftitute of all hope founded on 
 their original frame; and which is all, I think, 
 tl^at can be well concluded from thefe, and the 
 
 like 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 -I 
 
 like texts) and yet I apprehend that this rcerlajt^ 
 inglife, which was, in every fenfe, the gift of God 
 through Chrifiy may be extended to thefe heathens 
 equally with us 5 as by the fame Revelation we 
 are taught to believe, that there will be a general 
 Refurreftion of mankind, in order to as general 
 a Judgment; wherein each individual fhall re- 
 ceive an equitable fentence, according to the law, 
 or difpenfation, under which he lived in this 
 world,* 
 
 No clafs of mankind therefore, are in their 
 own nature, capable of rifmgfrom that Jiatt of 
 death in which they were originally involved; and 
 yet through the grace of God, (who is the Sai)iour 
 of all men, efpecially of thofe that belie-ve-, i Tim.iv. 
 10.) any, or all of them, may recover out of it; 
 and be raifed to unlimited happinefs: and thereby 
 the benefit conveyed through lYitfecondAdam may 
 become in all refpefts equal to the lofs fuftained 
 in the firft; nay rather, much more abundant-, as 
 the fame Apoftle feems to declare expreffly, Rom. 
 V. 14, &c. f By which means, thefe two difpenfa- 
 tions will appear conformable to the reft; the 
 latter being really an improvement on the former. 
 Thus both the Old and New Tejiaments are recon- 
 ciled together, and every part of each becomes 
 confiftent with all others. 
 
 • See JVbitBy on Rom. ii. 1 2. f See Tajkr oji Or. Sin. P^ 1. 
 
: t 
 
 '1 
 
 57U- 
 
 67- 
 
 144 
 
 The Note in p.-^ 1 56 
 
 166 
 231 
 280 
 
 ►refers to p.- 
 
 r284 
 190 
 208 
 
 265 
 
 174 
 184 
 
 355 
 308. 
 
 > 
 
 
 i 
 
 %*: 
 
 Part I 
 
 Want of Universality 
 
 I N 
 
 Natural and Revealed Religion, 
 
 No juft Objedlion againft either. 
 
 Is he the God of the Jews pnly ? Is he not alfo of the 
 Gentiles? TeSy of the Gentiles alfo. Rom. iii. 29. 
 
 For when the Gentiles^ which have not the Law^ do 
 by Nature the things mitained in the Law ; thefe 
 having not the Law^ are a J^aw unto the^nfehe^. 
 Rom. ii. 14, 
 
 

 t 
 
 X" '•" 
 
 Want of Universality 
 
 I N 
 
 Natural and Revealed Religion, 
 
 No juft Objecaion againft either. 
 
 Acts xvii. 30. 
 
 An^I the T'irnes of this Ig}iora?ice God winked aty but 
 now comjnandeth all men every where to repent. 
 
 THESE words contain a declaration of God's 
 moft gracious purpofe to reform mankind 
 by the coming of C h r i s t ^ and at the fame 
 time intimate the preference due to this, above 
 any former inftitution. 
 
 In the foregoing verfes the Apoftle had been 
 inftrufting the Athenians in the nature of the 
 true God, and his univerfal providence. He fliews 
 them that there is one common father and go- 
 vernor of the world, who has made this earth a 
 fit habitation for the fons of men, and diftributed 
 them all over the face of it 3 who has diftinguifli- 
 ed the feafons, and divided the nations, and fixed 
 the bounds and periods of each,* in fo very regu- 
 lar and wife a manner, as might lead all diligent 
 
 obfer\xr§ 
 
 ♦ See Bryant on Ancient Hiilory, p. 162, &c. 
 
 A 2 
 
^*;» 
 
 
 4 Of the 'Wc7nt of Uitiverfaliiy 
 
 obfcrvers of them to a knowledge of their author; 
 and put them upon feeking out fome method of 
 exprefling their devotion to him. Though here in 
 fa6l, (as the Apoftle intimates, ;^. 27.) they were 
 all but like men groping in the dark ; their 
 notions of the Deity imperfe6l and obfcure; their 
 worfliip abfurd and irrational. 
 
 This their ignorance God was pleafed for fomc 
 time to lotnk at, {dTn^tSeiv) to overlook, difregard, 
 or, as it is in a parallel place, * He fifftred them 
 to walk in their own ways, to wander through the 
 various fe6ls of fuperftition and idolatry into 
 which they had fallen : but now he commandeth 
 all men every where to repent-, or rather publi flies, 
 (■sra^a^^reXXsi) proclaims the tidings of falvaUon 
 to all men upon the eafy terms of repentance, or 
 returning to a right mind; he offers a new cove- 
 nant to mankind in general, from the benefits 
 whereof none aic abfolutely excluded who fm- 
 cerely defire them : — Tidings, which ought ta 
 be received by all, as they were by the firfl Chrifl-- 
 ians, with joy and thankfulnefs. 
 
 But how ftrangely has the face of things been 
 altered, or rather the nature of them inverted 
 fmce! Wiien, through the degeneracy of man- 
 kind, the benefits of this divine inftitution become 
 rcftrained to a few people ; and even thcfc are 
 taught to defpile it, for that very reafon which 
 ufes to make a benefit the more valuable, name- 
 ly, becaufe it is refi:rained to themfclves! 
 
 If, fay the prefent unbelievers, God has made 
 of one blood all nations of men ^ and is no refpeBer of 
 
 per- 
 
 * Acls XIV. 16. ' 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. 5 
 
 perfonsy if he defigns this revelation for all men, 
 as he muft, if it be of fo great ufe and advantage 
 to them ; — Why then is it not aftually commu- 
 nicated to all ?— Why did he fo long,— Why does 
 j^e fti[i — ci^ink at the ignoranceof fo many nations, 
 and leave them without any means of coming to 
 the knowledge of his truth ? Can a God of infi- 
 nite power and wifdom be difappointed in his aim ? 
 Or will the common father of mankind confine 
 his greatefl: mercies to fo few of his children? 
 — And thus every argument of the fuperior ex- 
 cellency of our religion is made an objedion to 
 its divine authority; and what Ihould be a parti- 
 cular motive of gratitude for having received it, 
 is turned into the ftrongeft reafon for rejecting it. 
 
 In mv following; difcourfe I fhall confiderthat 
 part of this objeftion, which relates to the Manner 
 of the Chrijlian difpenfation ; the other, which 
 more immediately affe6ls the Time of its delivery, 
 being referved to a more full examination after- 
 wards. 
 
 In anfwer tiierefore to this part of the fore- 
 going difficulty, I (hall endeavour to prove in the 
 firft place, 
 
 I. That a partial communic^ion of Chriftianity 
 can be no particular objeftion to its divine au- 
 thority, fince the religion of nature is on the 
 lame foot with it in this rcfpe6l. 
 
 II: I propofe to fliew the wifdom and goodnefs 
 of the divine concluft in the difpenfation of them 
 both. And, 
 
 A3 III. The 
 
h 
 
 6 Of the ivant of Unherfality 
 
 III. The great benefit of complying with the 
 terms of the gofpel, and the inexcufablenefs of 
 rejecting it. 
 
 I. I am to fhew that 2l partial communication of 
 Chriftianity can be no particular objeftion to its 
 divine authority, fince the religion of nature is 
 on the fame foot with it in this refpeft. 
 
 As the all-wife Creator of the univerfe has 
 been pleafed to frame different orders of intellec- 
 tual beings, fo he has made a confiderable differ- 
 ence among thofe of the fame order. In mankind 
 the cafe is very evident. We cannot but obferve 
 a vaft dilparity between both the abilities and ad- 
 vantages of fome men, and thofe of others; their 
 tempers of body, and powers of mind, and circum- 
 ftances in the world; their education, opportuni- 
 ties, and ways of life ; the ftation they are in, or 
 the government they live under. 
 
 Now thefe are fo many talents, which together 
 make up our portion of reafon^ and feverally con- 
 tribute to the forming our underftanding, and 
 improving our nature. As thefe then are fo very 
 unequally diilributed ; 'tis plain that our religious 
 notions, or our law of nature^ muft be very differ- 
 ent and unequal alfo. The bounds of duty will be 
 as various as the degrees of knowledge in every 
 man, and likewife be enlarged in proportion to 
 the gradual improvements in the fame man. 
 
 To fpeak therefore of ontfixty immutable ^ and 
 Univerfal law of nature, is framing an imaginary 
 fcheme without the leaft foundation in the real 
 
 nature 
 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. y 
 
 nature of things ; direftly contrary to the prefent 
 order of the whole creation : 'tis making the 
 fame rule fuit beings in all circumftances ; which 
 is equally abfurd, as to prefcribe the fame food 
 and phyfic to all conftitutions. - 
 
 To ftile this religion of nature abfolutely per^ 
 feBy or its Xi^t fujicient-y can only mean, that 
 every one may be as perfeft here as God intended 
 him to be, and able to do all that his maker will 
 require of him ; or fo much as is fufficient to ex- 
 cufe him ivom pujiijlment : which is very true, but 
 nothing to the purpofe : for this kind of perfeftion 
 is far from implying an univerfal, unchangeable 
 equality in the law of nature, or excluding greater 
 light; fince it may be very confiflent with that di- 
 verfity of talents abovementioned,and thofe differ- 
 ent degrees of happinefs and perfe6lion, which are 
 founded in, and naturally confequent upon it. 
 
 As therefore all the gifts of nature are diftri- 
 buted in this partial and unequal manner, howun- 
 reafonable is it to objeft againft revealed religion, 
 for its being conveyed in the very fame mafmer ! 
 One who believes any thing of a God and his pro- 
 vidence, will naturally fuppofe, that if any reve- 
 lation were to be made, it would be made ac- 
 cording to the fame method which is obferved in 
 the government of the natural and moral world ; 
 at leaft, he that allows this method to be con- 
 fiftent with the belief of a deity in the one, cannot 
 furely on that account rejed the other.* 
 
 Thus 
 
 * Chuhb in his difcourfe on Miracles, p. 48, l^c, endeavours to in- 
 validate this obfsrvation, by afferting, that the two cafes are not 
 
 A 4 parallel. 
 
8 Of the want of Univerfalify 
 
 Thus much may be fufRcient to fhew, that na- 
 tural and revealed religion are upon the fame foot 
 in point of nmverfality \ and that the objeftion 
 holds equally againft both of them. And I have 
 been the more brief on this head, as it has been 
 fully difcufled of late by abler writers,* 
 
 II. Let us proceed therefore in the fecond place, 
 to point out the wifdom and goodnefs of the di- 
 vine condu6l in both thefe difpenfations. 
 
 I ft. Of Natural Religion; which, as we have 
 feen, is proportionable to the different abilities 
 and attainments of mankind 3 as thefe are alfo 
 to their different ftations and conditions s both 
 which we (hall find exquifitely fuited to the well- 
 being of the world. 
 
 For in the firft place, fociety is requifite in or- 
 der to fupply the conveniences, the comforts, 
 and the neceffaries of Hfe, as well as to fecure the 
 quiet ufe, and fafe poffeffion of them. To pre- 
 ferve fociety, among fuch frail fallible creatures, 
 
 there 
 
 parallel, becaufe the one could not have been better conftituted ; 
 which he thinks cannot be made appear concerning the other. But 
 if it be (hewn that the like, or greater inconveniences would flow 
 from any other aflignable way of conveying revelation (which will 
 be attempted in the following part of this difcourfe;) then we have 
 as much reafon to aflert, that it could not upon the whole have been 
 conveyed in a better way ; and confequently the objedion drawn 
 from its want of Univerfality, will be of no more force than that 
 from Inequality is in the common courfe of nature ; and the two 
 cafes will ftill be exadly parallel. Nor can I find the leaft proof 
 of the contrary in Ld. Bolingbroke's declamation, (Works, Vol.iv. 
 p.293,^r.) except what arifes from the arbitrary fuppofition of 
 ibme few divines, and is fufficiently obviated near the end of Part II. 
 * See Conybeare\^ Fojier's, or S. Brozune's Defence of Revelation ', or 
 Dinners Sermon on the Propagation of the Gofpel; or more at large 
 in Butler's Analogy, &c. p. i8l, 215, &c. 8vo. or Sjkes on Miracles, 
 p. 204, &c. 
 
 .»l! 
 
 \ 
 lit 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. 9 
 
 there is need of government, which implies differ- 
 ent nations and conditions ; as thefe again call 
 for different abilities and qualifications. All, 'tis 
 plain, cannot be govemours, nor enjoy the be- 
 nefits which attend fome pofts of wealth and 
 power : the many have nothing left them but to 
 obey, to execute the will of their fuperiors, and 
 undergo the drudgeries of life.* 
 
 The fame holds in the body politic, as in the 
 natural ; there muft be many inferior and more 
 feeble members, which yet are necejary 3 neither can 
 the head fay to the feet, I have no need of you. 
 
 But now, if all thefe different members of the 
 world had naturally the felf-fame fenfe and rellfli 
 of things ; if each man had originally and un- 
 changeably the higheft degree of underffanding 
 and acutenefs -, the greateft ftrength of reafon, and 
 finenefs of imagination, that is to be met with in 
 any of the fpecies^ how vei7 unequal and incon- 
 o-ruous muft this unavoidable diverfity of orders 
 prove! Hew hard would be the cafe of them, 
 whofe lot is to fill the worft and loweft offices, and 
 yet v/ho find themfelves as well qualified for, and 
 as highly deferving too of the beft, (fince on 
 this fuppofition, which leaves it fo very rittl>i 
 in any one's power to benefit either himfclf o:* 
 others, there could fcarce be any real defert at 
 all) as thofe that hold them s and who likewife 
 
 can- 
 
 * Illi ergo omnes conditi funt ut haec opera prjeflent, quiboS in 
 civitate opus ell; conditus eft autem vir fcientia prafditas fui gra- 
 tia: [/. e. ob finem quern adcptus eft, fc. fcientiam.] atque ita fjmal 
 colitur terra, et reperitur fapientia. Quam Icite cr^^ d*xir illc, 
 quiiquis fait, Kft cjjent ftulti, defolaretur terra ! Maimon. ?utA 
 Mff p. 41. Vid. iiccl • x;<xviii- 32, 34. & Hdberg N, Klim. p. J 33. 
 
I o Of the want of XJniverfality 
 
 cannot but be as deeply fenfible of all that mi- 
 fery and hardfhip which arifes from the want of 
 them ! The common intelleft and apprehenfion 
 of man would be but ill placed in an ox or afs-^ 
 nor would the genius and temper of fome phi- 
 lofophic mind be any better fuited to hun that 
 driveth them, and is occupied in all their labours. 
 
 But this muft neceflarily be the ftate of things, 
 if all men were by nature furnifhed with all thofe 
 rational or intelleftual accomplifhments, which a- 
 dorn fome few of them at prefent. Three parts in 
 four of the world muft be unfit for their particular 
 circumftances, and at odds with their condition. 
 How inconfiftent alfo would it be in nature to 
 implant thofe various fenfes, appetites, and taftes 
 in all men, which not one in a thoufand would 
 have power to gratify ! — that fublime degree of 
 reafon and reflection, which could only prove 
 its own tormentor! 
 
 Not to mention what ill influence fuch a fcheme 
 would have on government itfelf ; how difficult 
 it muft be to rule, where every one has the fame 
 ftrength and (kill; how hard to obey, when all 
 have equal abiUties, and therefore (as they might 
 imagine) an equal right to be their own direft- 
 ors. *In ftiort, how much more wife and be- 
 neficial 
 
 * Si omnes ingenio pares e/fent, omnefque in eofdem afFeftus 
 prochves, aut ufdcm virtutibus ornati; non effetqui alius imperils 
 parere veller, aut ei quidpiam concedere, aut qui varietati minifte- 
 riorum et arnum omnium generum aptus effet. Cum omnes omnia 
 curare nequeant, fingulos in Societate fuo munere, in gratiam alio- 
 rum, fungi oportct; nee viliffima munera minus funt neceffaria in- 
 terdum quam fublimiora. Itaque effe oportuit omnibus fuum in- 
 genium, utquifque quod fuum ell ad 6W/;'/^/j fclicitatcm conferret. 
 ct quod ceteris declt fua induftria fuppieret. Cleric. Siiv. PhiloU 
 ^^ JtiQhin. Socr* p. ij'o, 171, 
 
 \ 
 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. . 1 1 
 
 neficial is the prefent conftitution of things! 
 where all is left to mankind themfelves, who have 
 both t\vQ forming and difpoptg of each other; nay, 
 where men are at liberty in a great meafure to 
 frame their own natures, and difpofitions : v/here 
 they have no inconvenient or pernicious princi- 
 ple to lay to nature^s charge * ; no properly in- 
 nate notions, or implanted i?7jii?2^s f -y no truly 
 natural appetite or affeSlion, to fway or byafs them; 
 except that univerfal fenfe, and ftrong defire of 
 happinefs, which was fo abfolutely necellaiy to 
 
 their prefer vation {a). 
 
 By 
 
 • See Ibhot's Boyle's Lea. 2d fett, Serm. 5. p. 143, ^c. or King' % 
 Origin of E^il, Note 38, p. 189. 4th Edit. 
 
 t See Prelim. Diflf. to King and Rem. i, p. 75. 4^^^ Edit. 
 
 (a) To fuch as are defirous of forming more exad, philofophical 
 notions on the prefent Subjed, let it be obferved, that when the firft 
 foundation of a diverfity of fenfe and intelled is once laid in a 
 greater or Icfs fufceptibility of pleafure or pain, by 2. perception of 
 ideas more acute or dull, more quick or flow, and a proportioned 
 rejleaion on them, (which proportion, by the bye, between thefe two 
 powers [of perceiving and refleaing] is, I believe, in eaca Perfon 
 pretty exaaiy kept up, as to the pitch of their vivacity m bota the 
 abovenamed refpeds) -from hence the whole tribe of ^#^//:?^/,&c. 
 and the feveral degrees in each, are very apparently deducible : 
 fuppofine; only this, I fay, which feems to he in the ongina^jtamina 
 of the body, and is fo far not to be accounted for, at lead by me ; 
 which therefore, and which only 1 fliould term innate or flndlly na- 
 tural-, fince every thing befides, that is comprehended under the 
 name of natural aptetite, &c. is properly fo tar from being fuch, that 
 it is evidently pofterior in the order of nature, and entirely ground- 
 ed on the ideas which themfelves arife from hence, and whole innate- 
 nefs in all fenfes of that word is now generally given up: -- fup- 
 pofing then this one foundation laid by nature, a difference herein 
 will be enough to conftitute the being more or lefs lenfibie^, or ra- 
 tional in general ; and tend to make it more or lefs pajjion ate 01 
 mild, eager or indolent, &c. in whatfoever it applies itlelt to: But 
 can this ever aaually determine it to any one peculiar fett ot objects, 
 or have any tendency towards giving what we mean by a particular 
 genius, tallc, or temper? That, and the whole conlluuiion of the 
 human mind, or its predominant qualities, fcem to arife afterwards^ 
 from the particular affQciatiQns which we form ourfelves, or learn ot 
 ^ others. 
 
12 
 
 Of the want of Unherfalify 
 
 By thefe means we have at firft only fuch 
 thoughts and inclinations inftilled into our minds 
 as are agreeable to, and for the moft part do in 
 fa6t arile from our particular place and circum- 
 ftai\ces in the world) and afterwards find room 
 
 enough 
 
 others, as thefe grow gradually, and even mechanically from the 
 circumftances we are in, or from thofc objects that more immediately 
 furround and ftrike us * ; provided that a fuitable attention and re- 
 gard be paid to each as it prcfents itfelf. 
 
 For that amidil all this mechanic apparatus we have fuch a 
 diflinft faculty oi attenMng, and determining the fubordinate powers 
 in confequence thereof, as is Itated at large by ABp. King, I mull 
 beg leave to fuppofe, till all the various appearances, which feeni 
 fo much to require it (of which in the following Note •') are folvcj 
 on other principles ; and then indeed this, which, it muft be owned, 
 contains lomething inexplicable, will beof courfe excluded. I may 
 add here, that neither are thofe ojfociatiom themfelves, from whence 
 fome very ingenious perfons would deduce a total mechanifm, alto- 
 gether mcejfary ; nor we fo far palfive under them, as to be left with- 
 out a power of curbing and correfling, breaking and eradicating ; as 
 well as of contracting them at firft, and afterwards confirming them : 
 to afTert this would be advancing a new dodlrine oi habits contrary 
 to the general fenfe and language of mankind. 
 
 Well then, allowing fuch a degree of liberty, or adlivc power to 
 be joined with the other pafiive ingredients in our compolition, as 
 fuch, it mull in fome meafure adl independently on each of them, 
 and be capable of forming new aj/bciations from its own proper adls, 
 wh^ch will extend to all the reft, and influence them: and yet as it 
 will alfo have fome fuch fort of conneclion with them all, as to be 
 
 itfelf 
 
 * See Hartiys Obfervations on Man, part i. A book well worth 
 tlie pains required to underftand it, and which I mull beg leave to rc- 
 i:ommend, as exhibiting a very curious hiftory of man's frame, and well 
 founded in tiie main; though the ingenious author carries fome points, 
 particularly that of mechanifm, farther perhaps, than either experience 
 fcems to juftify, or we are at prefent willing to allow. Perhaps it exceeds 
 tlie power of human undcrftanding to decide where mechmifm ends, 
 and where the liberty of iridifftirtnce (the only notion of liberty that 
 comes up to the purpofe) may be fuppofed to commence. However, 
 it feems clear that fome fhare of each is to be admitted into the hum:in 
 compofition, as well towards folving feveral phasnomcna, as giving due 
 fatisfa<5tion in the great articles of religion and morals; and that after 
 all the attempts of the moft able writers on this fubjec^t:, neither princi- 
 ple can be wholly exeuided. This appears fufficientty from a late hu- 
 morous treatife, where the fagacious Mr. Search^ in order to reconcile 
 his fcheme to common fenfe, either plays continually on a falfe and fo- 
 reign notion of freedom, or is forced to adopt a main part ol the real 
 fyftem, even while he is endeavouring to exclude it. 
 
 \» 
 
 in 'Natural and Reveakd Religion. 1 3 
 
 enough to refine, improve, and enlarge our fa^ 
 culties; to quahfy ourfelves for, as well as, by a 
 right application of them, to merit fome fuperior 
 ftation, whenever that fhall become void. How 
 regular and beautiful a fubcrdination muft this 
 
 foon 
 
 Itfelf in fome refpeft or other influenced by them reciprocally; or 
 /which comes to the fame thing) the mirJ will be fo far afFeded in. 
 and through them as to influence it ; which we all daily feel : [elfe 
 how come thefe parts of our conftitution to be conftantly applied to 
 with iuccefs for the determination of it ? Why is pain prefent or in 
 profpea ufed to move a man, or arguments and motives urged, if they 
 are really matters of indifterence to his choice, and have no natural 
 efFea upon it?] .^^s this grows and gathers ftrength, like all our 
 other faculties; and is equally capable of being impaired, and 
 reaified again : {King. Note X. p. 360. 4th Ed.) — As it is limited 
 and fubiea to its laws, not perhaps wholly different, though of a 
 kind diftina from thofc of the other appetites: {however, luch as 
 make it no lefs governable, Ibid. c. v. 5 5.fub. 4. p. 372,&c^wu!i 
 Notes 69, p. 366, and 70, p. 371.) and cannot go againft thefe ap- 
 petites without manifeft pain and mifery to the perfon : (lb. ncte 
 N. p. 241 , c^c.) — As it may be inclined, both by them and its own 
 courfe of operation, and will become daily more and more conform- 
 ed to them, by due regular exercife; which we likewife experience; 
 — its operations will become as much the objeas of foreknowledge ; 
 nor will it be much lefs eafy to account for either the formation, or 
 increafe of any particular turn of mind, in any given fituaiion, than 
 if rll were performed in us neceflarily, and at once. 
 
 This plan of human nature, which derives every thing from a 
 few principles, and yet makes room for that endlefs variety con- 
 fpicuous in it, might, I am fenfible, be fet in a good light, and 
 fhewn to be free from fome of the greateft difficulties that muft 
 clog all others, 'in tjiis view, a juft uniformity is, by the Deity, fo far 
 as his immediate aas reach, always, and might be by us, generally, 
 preferved among all its conftituent parts; our talents fuired to our 
 capacity of ufing them ; our fphere enlarged, as thai increafes ; and 
 regularly keeping pace with our improvements; each difpenfatioa 
 put upon a reafonable foot ; and all difcoveries made in due propor- 
 tion to our qualiticaiions forjudging of them, and our difpofitiuns 
 to apply them. Whereas the ^contrary fcheme, of bringing all 
 things to an orioinal, equal, and immediate intuition; or of fixing 
 every man to certain impuife?, or inftlnas, independent on his fta- 
 tion and endeavours, and intirely unimprovable by them ; this muft 
 be quite arbitrary, and in a great meafure ufelefs; and attended with 
 all the inconfiftences and inconveniences already mentioned. 
 ' Such would the confcquences be cf that pretended umve>fal equa- 
 hility, in natural religion ; nor is the levelling fcheme, fo mucli 
 contended for in revelation, lefs abfurd as will appear belo;y. 
 
14 Of the 10 ant of Univerfalify 
 
 foon produce! How fitly might the whole body^ 
 thus knit together and compared by that which every 
 joint fuppliethy increafe with the increafe of Gody 
 would man but enter into the fame great plan of 
 exciting induftry and labour, and do what lies in 
 his power to promote it, viz. entail benefits and 
 fucceffes as the natural confequence of thefe ; en- 
 deavour to fuit every one's flation to his refpe6tive 
 merit and abilities; /. e, deal with each perfon ac- 
 cording to what he isy and obferve thofe rules 
 which the great God of nature has eftablifhed ! 
 
 What emulation mufl this raife, joined with 
 the utmofl care and caution, when each finds it 
 in his power fo much to improve and advance, 
 as well as to impair and debafe his nature \ and 
 thereby alfo change his ftatel what eagernefs to 
 excel fome ! what dread of faUing below others ! 
 what encouragement for all, to make the befl ufe 
 of their faculties and opportunities! This amica- 
 ble conteft, and perpetual flruggle, muft certainly 
 make more for the good of the whole, than if 
 all had been paffive, and abfolutely fixed in any 
 degree of knowledge and perfe6lion ; or limited 
 unalterably to any flate. {b) Upon this plan 
 
 only 
 
 {h) Stc Ki7?g's Origin pf Evily Note 19. p. 108, &c. and NotcY. 
 p. 398, &c. We may add, that the funpofition of any fuch fixed, 
 unimprovable ftate o{ natural good implies, ftridlly fpeaking, no lefs 
 than the fubverfion of all virtue or ?noral good ; which is nothing 
 but the chufing to communicate the former: [See AT/V/^. R. i. p. 7^, 
 76. 4th Ed.] for which communication there could be no place m 
 fuch a rtate, nor confequcntly any room for any of thofe ideas which 
 arc founded on it. 
 
 Nor does this fchcme any better confult the intereft of our intel- 
 ieciur.l accompllfhments ; which, while it feems to be exalting them, 
 is r.t the bottom taking away their ufe and exercife: while it pre- 
 tend? to conlHtute an equality among rational agents, is really de- 
 (Irudive of both rationality, and agency. 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion . 1 5 
 
 only could there be place for hope or fear, reward 
 or punifhment, the only proper means of go- 
 verning free, rational agents ; and of conducing 
 them to their fupreme and truefl happinefs, which 
 feems entirely to confifl in agency ; and which 
 can only this way be excited *. This therefore 
 is the method moft agreeable to wifdom and good- 
 nefs, and in confequence mofl worthy of God f. 
 
 Having thus far confidered the partial diflri- 
 bution of the gifts of nature, and confequent 
 diverfity of natural religion^ and offered fome 
 hints towards explaining the reafonablenefs and 
 necefTity thereof; I proceed to fhew the fame 
 concerning revelation. 
 
 If a revelation were to be made at all, (and I 
 muft here take it for granted that fuch a thing 
 is neither impofTible nor unreafonable in itfelf,i) 
 it muft be conveyed in the method we are told 
 it was, namely, at firft communicated to fome 
 few feleft perfons, and by them divulged, and 
 gradually propagated to the reft of the world {c)\ 
 
 or 
 
 * See King, p. 216, 298, 311, 324, 335, 348, &c. with the fol- 
 lowing Note [^J. and Fofler^s wifdom of God in the various ranks 
 and fubordinations of human Life. Serm. viii. Vol. 2. 
 
 f See this defcribed more at large in Bp. Butler*s Analogyy p. 93, 
 &c. 2d Edit. 
 
 X See Jenkin, Vol, 1. C.I. or Ettquiry into the evidence of the 
 Chrift. Rel. J 8. 
 
 {() Chubb (on Miracles, p. 6^, &c.) obje£ls to this firft method, 
 that hereby it would be in the power of a few men to deprive the 
 reft of all the benefits of this revelation. 
 
 But is not that really the cafe in all the other benefits of nature, 
 and the ordinary gifts of providence ? Are not moft of the bleffings 
 of life communicated to us by the mediation and inftrumentality 
 of other men, who may be juft and faithful in communicating them, 
 or otherwife? and is it not oft in the power of a iingle perfon to 
 
 deprive 
 
 ^ '"Wi. I 
 
" ■ " ' " ■ t 
 
 1 6 Of the IV ant of Uninscrfality 
 
 or fecondly, every particular man muft have it 
 by immediate infpiration, and be at all times, 
 and in all cafes, influenced and direfted to it 
 internally; or thirdly, it muft be publifhed again 
 
 and 
 
 • 
 
 deprive multitudes of life itfelf, or any of its comforts ; of liberty, 
 peace, plenty, arts, improvements, &c? and is not all this unavoid- 
 able while men are allowed the free ufe of their natural powers, 
 which he himfelf contends for ? Men, he fays, are not to be o'ver-ruled 
 in either the publication or reception of religion ; and if {o^ he has 
 yet to explain how that is to be given fo as not to leanje it in the po-wer 
 and pkajureof a fi'iv, fooner Or later, to rellrain and fupprefs, to 
 difguife and corrupt it; and confequently to prevent thoufands and 
 trillions of others from Jharingin the benefits thereof ib. p. 63. On a 
 little farther cenfideration luch writers may probably find, that iii 
 this fchcme [of Human Liberty] it muA be impoffible for any thing 
 relating either to the minds, or outward circumftances of mankind, 
 to remain in a date of perfeft uniformity ; and then they may be 
 lenfible too that the fame caufes, which among other things that 
 concern mankind, make their religion unavoidably continue in this 
 partial and unequal way, will hold as ftrongly for its being origi- 
 nally given in the fame way. 
 
 Chubb' h fecond cbjedion. That if men could be fuppofcd to be 
 honed and faithful in the publication of a fyftem of revealed Reli- 
 gion, then there would be no occafion for luch fyllem, ib, feems to 
 \)e worfe founded than the other; fince this revelation, notwith- 
 flanding all the imperfeflions that attend its communication, may 
 jlill beVnc means of conveying fuch fiiperior benefits to thofe who 
 do come to the knowledge of it, of making fuch difcoveries in the 
 nature both of God and Man, and of affording motives for men's 
 attaining to fuch a degree of virtue, and true rational happinefs, as 
 all their honoly, without fuch helps, could never raife them to, at 
 jeaft the generality of them. 
 
 And whether the fo/e end of revelation he to bring men to a higher 
 pitch of iinppinef^ than they could otherwifc attain, or not: ib. p, 
 49. this authc^ never can prove but that this may be one of its great 
 wnj/s; and this end is in faft obtained, to as high a degree as is con- 
 fiitent with his own fcheme of peifcd liberty: (o that, in the laft 
 plnce, allowing God to /brefie all the confequences, and events at- 
 tending fuch an tflallifliment, ib. p. 62. yet this ellablifhment, fo 
 circumltanced, may, notwithftandingany thing this autlior has made 
 out to the contrary, come f/om him. And indeed Chubb feems at 
 length to be fenlible of that fame boafted objechon agmnft the di^vinity 
 <}/ a re-jelo.tioH J mm its non-uni'verfality being fo <vcry much uceakened^ 
 that he is grc^wn rather weary of it, and willing to get rid of it as 
 ^andtomely as he can, by pretending that he has not even leaned to 
 ihat fide of the qucfiion in all his debates upon it, and will take \X.un^ 
 kindly to have futh a thing fo much as infinuatcd of him* The A.}i» 
 thtfr'si'arcwcU, p. 219. note. 
 
 >l 
 
 /;; Natural and Reljealed Religion. J J 
 
 and again, and frefli miracles worked -for the 
 convi(5tion of each unbeliever in every age. 
 
 In the fecond of thefe methods the inconveni- 
 ences are very obvious : for Firft, This influence, 
 of what kind foever it be, muft either be abfo- 
 lutely efficacious and irrefiftible, /. e, fo ftrong as 
 to fubvert the natural powers of man, and take 
 away his freedom of thinking and acting 5 and 
 confequently deftroy all virtue, merit, praife, 
 reward; /. e, all that is good and valuable in 
 religion : — or elfe it would not be fufficient to 
 anfwer the ends propofed; nor could it certainly 
 and effeftually fecure the intereft and falvation of 
 mankind. 
 
 As an illwnination, it muft either be diftinguifh- 
 able fi'om the prefent effefts of reafon and the 
 ordinary operations of the divine fpirit, or not ; if 
 the former, this muft be by ftriking us more 
 forcibly, and working a more aflured, infaUible 
 conviftion in the mind: but fo much as is added 
 to that, above what may arife from the prefent 
 conftitution of things, juft fo much muft be taken 
 from the prefent choice, and merit of believing ; 
 and the concomitant delight and fatisfaftion 
 which we feel, and ought to feel, in giving our 
 aflent to truth {d). Such evidence muft either 
 
 fuper- 
 
 {d) See ABp. King\ Origin, N. 19. p. 108, &c. 4tK Ed. com- 
 pared with N. 59. p. 310. Whence it appears, that though in feme 
 cafes and refpcfts the afTent be unavoidable, and we merely paffive 
 in the attainment of many ufeful parts of knowledge; v/hich mull 
 be attended with fatisfa^ion in degree proportioned to the ap. 
 prehenfion of that ufefulnefs, and of a kind perhaps very com- 
 plex, as arifing from variety of caufes accidentally affociated ; yet 
 
 B ntither 
 
 i 
 
1 8 Of the ivant ()f Univerfality 
 
 fuperfede all aftion and enquiry of our own, an(^ 
 overbear the judgment beyond poffibility of doubt, 
 (which yet, from the manner of ouv acquiring 
 and affociating ideas, and forming judgments, is 
 impoffible to be conceived, without reverfmg the 
 whole frame of the human mind ; neither would 
 that appear to be at all defirabk, as v;e have fcen 
 above) it muft, I fay, either be inconfiftent with 
 the exercife of our other moft valuable faculties, 
 
 or 
 
 neither is the kind, nor the degree of this delight fo intcnfe, and ex- 
 
 auilite, as that which ufually accompanies thoie points which wff 
 
 work out ourfelves ; which we properly make o„r otvr:, by a free, 
 
 fair inveftigation. Thefe truths, though of no more importance it» 
 
 themfelvest or their confequences, than any others that are either 
 
 forcibly obtruded on us, or fortuitoufly thrown into our way; yet 
 
 are attended with a fort of felf-approbation, and complacency.which 
 
 both accompanies the firft difcovery, the tranfporting ..e^x ; and 
 
 will continue after it, and bear rcfleaion ; and which makes them 
 
 infinitely exceed all others in our eftimation. The fame thing, as it 
 
 is come at in the one or other of thefe ways, is evidently not ths 
 
 fame to m: which I can afcribe to nothing more than a confcioufneft 
 
 that in the former cafe we have contributed fomewhat to the acqui- 
 
 fition of it, and to our own improvement by that acqmfition ; or an 
 
 iAeaoi merit, conftantly affociated with this kindof acquifitions; and 
 
 which is perhaps the very llrongeft, and tne moft agreeable of all 
 
 From whence alfo we may collea how necefey it is to the hap- 
 pinefs of man, that he Ihould appear to hjmle f to be/r.., in the ex- 
 ircife of the faculties of bis mind, as well as the powers of his body ; 
 to be in fome degree aJIi^e in the attainment of his knowledge, as 
 well as any other attainments; and how far this will go towards 
 proving him to be really fo, I leave to be confidered. If he has 
 any rell liberty, there will be a good reafon for annexing this 
 double pleafure to the exercife of it,- both to excite him toadlion m 
 cafes of difiiculty, and afterwards tojulbfy hini ^o^ ^jjg^g^^g ^^ 
 fuch; and enable him to go through all the toil and hazard that 
 attends them. If he has none, won't it be a little hard to point out, 
 either the rife of reafonablenefs of this lu conftant, and fo general a 
 delufion ; and to account for fuch ideas as thole of merit, efleem, 
 reward, &c, which are intirely founded m it ? ^ .,. i r J 
 
 Whether the refolving all, with a late author, into the deceitful feeU 
 inz of liberty, be attended with lefs difficulties, than thofe which this 
 hypothefisfs calculated to remove, muft be fubmitted to the thought- 
 ful reader. See Hume on Uhtrty and mcejjitj, Efays on the Principles of 
 Mor.andNat,Rcl.VdSiL 
 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religim. 1 9 
 
 or it would come to the fame thing with the pre- 
 fent life. of them; and prove alike capable of be- 
 ing equally negleded or oppofed, corrupted or 
 deftroyed: it would have no higher evidence than 
 in fome cafes the common principles of reafon 
 have ; nor could it lay any ftronger obligation on 
 us to obey its dictates. 
 
 The fame will be the cafe with it confidered as 
 an irnpulfe, or impreffion on the mind, inciting it 
 to follow each determination of the judgment, 
 and phyfically conneaing thought with aftion ; 
 fmce this conneftion, if much altered from that 
 which is obfervable in the prefent ftatc, or in- 
 creafed to any confiderable degree above that 
 harmony which now fubfifts among our natural 
 powers, would be attended with the very fame 
 confequences*. 
 
 Farther; as all this muft be tranfa6led in a 
 man's own breaft, and fo long as it is limited as 
 above, or he retains the leaft degree of hberty, is 
 capable of being ftifled there; every one niight, 
 and moft probably would foon difregard it, as 
 much as he does now the many good thoughts, 
 motions, and fuggeftions, which arife daily in his 
 mind. Nor is there lefs likelihood of its being 
 perverted to the worft purpofes, as intereft, vice, 
 or vanity might direft : — of its foon filling the 
 world with rank enthufiafm, or the moft wicked 
 and abfurd impojiures-, and when it is thus once 
 perverted, there feems to be no room for any re- 
 medy 
 
 • Sec Hutchi/hn on thePaflions, p. 179, 200, &c. or King, N. 28, 
 
 &c 
 
 B 2 
 
tfV 
 
 20 Of the want ofUniverfality 
 
 medy upon this fcheme; no means are left us to 
 detefl the fraud, or folly of any rehgious pretences 
 whatfoever; no method for mankind to refcue 
 themfeh^es from perpetual dekifion {e). 
 
 Nor 
 
 (f) The fubtil author of Chrljlianhy not founded on Argument^ feems 
 to adopt this fecond method of communicating a religion to man- 
 kind, and carries it fo far as to fuperfede all other means, divine or 
 human, that have ever been made ufe of to fupport it in the world. 
 He contends for a conjlant and particular revelation imparted J'epar at cly 
 and fuper naturally to every indi'vidualy p. 112. 7'his he terms infpira- 
 tion, and infufed evidence, p. ^S. feeling and internal fenfy ib. and of 
 a nature but little differing from that of intuition^ p. 59. In Ihort, it is. 
 what will difpatch the wliole bufinefs of religion at once, without 
 either time or teachings [p. 17.] reading or rcafoning, the ufe of our 
 underflanding, or the evidence of our fenfcs. 
 
 'Tis hard to guefs upon what plan this author would defend him- 
 felf if he were prefled; but for the prefent he admits one general 
 external revelation to have been made and recorded [though both^ 
 upon his principles, muft have been extremely unncceffary] and yet 
 labours to diffuade us from examining the contents of it, and mofl 
 inconfiftently attempts to Ihcw, as well from reafon as this very re- 
 velation, that we ought not to employ our reafon at all, either in the 
 proof, or the interpretation of it, or in any thing elfe relating to the 
 fubjedl, p. 7. &c. A felf-deftruftive fchemel which were it really,, 
 -as he pretends to prove,, laid down, by Chriji and his apojlles, and in 
 the nature of the thingy or from ih'i pradice of mankind ever fo necef- 
 fary, yet could not poflibly be kept clear of the confequences above- 
 mentioned : — of which more hereafter. 
 
 But that this is far from being the cafe, may eafily be fhewn. 
 That Chriji and his apoilles both encourage and enjoin the exercife 
 of reafon in religious matters is plain enough from thefe few texts, 
 Matth. xiii. 19, 23. Mark viii. 17, 18. Luke i. 4. xii. 57. Johnv. 39. 
 jicl, xvii. II, 17. Rem. x. 17. xi. 1 . iCer. x. 15. xiv. 29* zCor, xiii* 
 <j. I Ti?n. iv. 13, 14, 15. 2 Jim. iii. 15. i John iv. I. 1 Pet, iii. 15. 
 Do fuch texts as thefe fuppofe Con-viSli'jn to precede the E'vidence? p. 
 37. to which add i Thff. v. 21. where St. ?auly treating oi Spiritual 
 Cifts themfelves, exhorts hi^; followers 10 prove all things [zhoi^cM 
 talk! fays our author, p. 76.] and Rom, x. 2. where the fame great 
 apoftle is recommending Zeal according to kno^vledge'y though this 
 writer is pleafed to tell us, t\\:i\.fu£h zeal "will fear ce e^ver drj'erve the 
 9iame; p. 25. 
 
 However, to give this extraordinary fcheme of his a fcriptural 
 air, he lavs hold on fome pafia^cs of Scripture-hiftory [of which in. 
 their proper place] and draws in feveral detacht parts ot texts about 
 the Spirit of God, or fuch as found that way; which he applies to 
 his point indifcriminately, whether tliey concern thofc ordinary af- 
 fiiianccb and imperceptible opcrationt that may be cxpe^^ed fnin the 
 
 Holy 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. 2 1 
 
 Nor, in the third place, would lefs inconve- 
 niences attend the frequent republication of reli- 
 gion, and working new miracles for the convic- 
 tion of each particular perfon that might be fup- 
 
 pofed 
 
 Holy Ghoft in every age, or are confined to his extraordinary, mi- 
 raculous gifts, that were, we think, peculiar to the firft publication 
 of the gofpel, and produced thofe wonderful effects which this 
 writer alludes to; and which he, with fome modern feftaries, feems 
 ftill to claim, upon that ever weak foundation of believing ftrongly 
 that he has the fame, without being able to bring any of the fame 
 proofs in jullification of fuch his belief. Though even here he 
 ought to be reminded, that moil of thefe very fupernatural gifts 
 were fo far from exerting themfelves independently on any natural 
 attainments, that they moll commonly aded in conjundlion with, and 
 were adminiftered conformably to fuch ; and were themfelves im- 
 proved by labour, diligence, and lludy, or impaired and quite ex- 
 tinguiihed by negled; [See f^'hithy and others, on 2 Tim. i. 6.] that 
 all of them were fubjeifl to the will and reafon of thofe who pofielTed 
 them ; and to be by them carefully and prudently applied to the 
 particular exigencies of the church, and the moft ufeful purpofes of 
 edifying: fo as to conllitute the whole a reafonable fer'vice, * God, 
 
 * when he makes the prophet, does not unmake the man.^ He 
 
 * leaves all his faculties in their natural date, to enable him to judge 
 
 * of his infpirations, whether they be of divine original or no. When 
 ^ he illuminates the mind with fupernatural light, he does not ex- 
 
 * tinguilh that which is natural. If he would have us aflent to the 
 
 * truth of any proportion, he either evidences that truth by the 
 
 * ufual methods of natural reafon,or elfe makes it known to be a truth 
 
 * which he would have us aflent to, by his authority, and convinces 
 
 * us that it is from him, by fome marks which reafon cannot be 
 
 * miflakenin. Reafon mufl be ourlall judge and guide in everything.' 
 Locke o\i Enthufafm : A chapter which I Vv^ould beg leave to recom- 
 mend to this extraordinary writer; and when he fhews us any of the 
 fame infallible marks of Infpiration, that were formerly exhibited; 
 when he communicates fome of that infufed e^vidence which he can 
 make appear not to have been derived from other fources, we may 
 be obliged implicitly to follow his directions; but till then, are, I 
 humbly apprehend, at liberty to fuppofe that he himfelf is only 
 
 folloimng his oi'jnfpirity and has feen noihing', and that all thtkfeeh 
 ingsy (if he be in earneft in pretending to ihem) are no more than the 
 efedls of his own warm imagination. For that the ordinary operations 
 of the Spirit do not fuggeft any thing of this kind ; — that they are 
 never dillinguilhable from the natural workings of our minds, much 
 lefs in any rcfped fubverfive of them ; — that they are perfectly con- 
 fillent with the moft free ufe of all our rational powers, which are 
 the gift of the fame author, and given to be fo ufed by us ; — and 
 that thefe generally attend upon their regular exercife, and were de- 
 li 3 figned 
 
22 Of the want of Univerfality 
 
 pofed to want it ; fmce thefe repeated publications, 
 when grown common, would in all probability 
 be as little minded as the conftant preaching of it 
 is at prefent. Such a continual feries of miracles 
 
 would 
 
 fifvncd rather to preferve, affift, improve, than to obllrua and fuper- 
 fede it; is, 1 think, now pretty well agreed. See King'h Origin of 
 
 Evil, N.71. p. 376,&c, 4th Edit. .„ , . r n- • r 
 
 Nor can he (hew that reaibn, thus aflifted, will be infufficient for 
 the purpofes of true religion; or make out from the nature of thefe 
 two, that they ought to have no communication with each other. 
 
 His firft allegation, that men by the exercife of their reafon neither 
 do, nor can be required to think all alike, will not come up to his point, 
 as it is neither true nor necefiarv. 'Tis falfe in many matters both 
 of faa and reafon, on which all men, that think at all, think in one 
 vvay ; and he has yet to fhew why the effentials of the Chriitian in- 
 ftitution may not be included among fuch ; I mean as they lie in 
 the Bible, and fo far as our afient is there explicitly required to them, 
 in one and the fame precife determinate manner, on pam of for^it- 
 inc the privileges of that inftitution. Thefe effentials he will hnd 
 to be very few and plain. But though he allows the whole of 
 ehriftianity to be true and rcafonable, yet he feems all along to beg 
 the queftion, by fuppofing that it is of fuch a nature as is incapable 
 of being made to appear fo to each perfon, fo far as he is concerned 
 to know, either the fubftancc of it, or its grounds. Hence ah the 
 formidable objeaions againft reafon's judging of the gofpel- truths ; 
 which yet hold equally in many other truths of confequence in com- 
 mon life, wherein the common people, notwithftanding, go on very 
 well by the ufe of their natural faculties, be they ever fo weak, or 
 how ftrongly fo ever befet with doubts and difriculties.^ 
 
 His other arguments againft admitting reafon in religious matters, 
 from fome particular inititutions, and the general praftice of the 
 world, are no better founded. Ihat children are introduced into 
 the Chriilian church hy Baptifm [which our author feems to argue for, 
 and goes perhaps a little farther than he will be able to julHfy, when 
 he aSerts that to be the ordinance of God him/elf ] and that they have 
 early prepoflcflions in favour of Chriftianity, [whereof he (hews the 
 great ufe and neceflity, and wherein we moft heartily join with him ; j 
 does this render their religion the lefs reafonable to them, when they 
 are capable of reafoning about it? Or are they ftriftly under any 
 other obligation, when they ccme to age, of taking it upon them- 
 felves, than what arifes from their conviftion of the reafonablenefs 
 and wifdom of fo doing, on their then being fatisfied of its truth 
 and divine authority; and what they otherwife would have been 
 under, when thus much ever Ihould come to thejr knowledge ? Sure- 
 ly, their being made to underlland the Chrijlian religion firft, by no 
 means hinders their giving it a fair examination afterwards; fo foon 
 and fo far as they become qualified for fuch examination. Nay, if 
 
 2 they 
 
 ,.^ 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. 23 
 
 would in time be no miracles at all ; they muft 
 lofe all their force, together with their furprife 
 and novelty ; nor could they leave any more live- 
 ly, or more lafting impreflions on us, than fuch 
 
 as 
 
 they underftand it thoroughly, they will find that It requires exa- 
 mination from all its profeffors in fome degree or other; as appears 
 fiifiiciently from thofe few texts above. It does indeed infift on a 
 jight belief and a conformable ;)r«^/V^. in all perlons to whom it 
 has been fairly propofed: And where's the wonder! Does any law- 
 giver proclaim thofe exceptions to the general obligation of his laws, 
 which accidentally arife from the fole incapacity of the fubjed ; and 
 which common (enfe is always ready to fuggeft, and willing to allow 
 for, without the leaft diminution o^ their ule and obligation? Or 
 would it be any derogation from their excellence.and authority; or 
 any excufe for our not labouring to undenlaiid theie laws, that all 
 men did net reafon right about them ? 
 
 Nor does our being to apply by prayer for the continuing ft edf aft in 
 the faith, Jhi^ the defgn of God that reafon Jhould not be at all employed 
 on all thefe occaftvm ; p. 1 1 . any more than his ^working in us both to 
 q^ill and do, and our being taught to aft: this of him, proves that we 
 have no occafion to endeavour to nvork out ouroivf^faha^ion. We do 
 not pretend that reafon is itfelf fufficient either to difcover all that 
 may be of benefit in religion, or engage us to obferve and ad up to 
 what it is really able to difcover; and therefore there is room enough 
 for our foliciting the grace of God, as well to ftrengthen and fup- 
 port this very faculty, as to bring others into due fubjeftion to it ; 
 — to lead us into the truth; — to make us love and feek it; •— to 
 guard againft every deviation from it ; — and enable us to refift the 
 Sumberlefs temptations to vice, ignorance, and a criminal unbelief. 
 Nor, laftly, would the dilhculties and difcouragements which hu- 
 man reafon is too frequently laid under by the pradice of the world, 
 were that in truth fo bad at prefent as .this author repjefents, wholly 
 deftroy its influence in the point before us ; or prove any thing more 
 than that its province is too much invaded by thofe, be they /^r«';z//, 
 tutors, or magiftrates, who either wilfully or unwarijy impofe thefe 
 difficulties ; and who alone are anfwerable for giving any handle for 
 fuch a plea as he has grounded on them. \i tki& two former con- 
 stantly betray its caufe, by narrowing the minds of yo.utli, and (hut- 
 ting up the avenues of knowledge; if they do not j:each them care- 
 fully the art of reafoning, and lead theip ^o a fair, free ufe of reafon 
 on every fubjed within their fphere, a^id worthy of their enquiry; 
 or if the laft intrench upon its rights by interpofing their authority 
 in the grand affair of divine worihip, beyond barely keeping up the 
 eilabliftied form., and tolerating others; — If this were indeed the 
 cafe now, as I hope and truft it is not; this author, 1 conceive, 
 fliould have (hewn thefe proceedings to be warrantable, ere he went 
 €n in earneft to draw fuch a confequence, as that :he ivhole Jubjea is 
 
 B 4 abfaiutelj 
 
24 Of the want of Univerfality 
 
 as may be kept up by thofe {landing records, and 
 vifible memorials, which now evidence to us the 
 tnith of Chrijiiajiity. 
 
 Not to mention that both of the foregoing 
 fchemes would in fome meafure put it out of the 
 power even of God himfelf to bring about a re- 
 formation in rehgion, when it was once corrupt- 
 ed (as it might eafily be in both of them) fmce 
 thereby the ftrongeft and fitteft of all means to 
 procure attention, awe, and reverence, which we 
 now call fupernatural interpofition, would foon 
 become familiar, cheap, and ineffe£lual to that 
 end 5 as was hinted above. 
 
 Befides, 
 
 mhfcluttly out of reafon' s jurifdi^iom, A confequence, which can tend 
 only to revive Cclj'us^s calumny againft the Chrijiian caufe, M>j e|«- 
 Ta^e, aXXflt crtrff-yoy ; and recommend the no lefs abfurd, modern 
 maxim, that ignorance is the mother cf demotion : it renders all that 
 jcripture^ which was given by infpiration, a dead, ufelefs letter ; and 
 reprefents that other candle of the Lord v^% a falfe light and dangerous ; 
 and fuch as, by this writer's mottOy is infinuared to be a curie upon 
 us, rather than a blefling. This notion indeed he has kept to all 
 along, whether ferioufly orotherwife he knows beft; and concludes 
 fuitably enough to it with this piece of advice to his young acade- 
 mic, that he content himfelf with being as rational a Chriftian as 
 hisyj^fr, or mother, p. 114. 
 
 As to the inconfiftencies which this (hrewd writer labours to fix 
 upon that excellent inftitution the Boylean ledure, and thofe worthy 
 perfons who have with fo much fuccefs accompliihed its defign, \ 
 need only appeal to T>T.Ibhoty who, I think, Hands abfoluttly clear 
 of his exceptions; and has as fully anfwered the end of its great 
 and good founder, as he has obviated this author's whole perform- 
 ance. Of which I fhall only obferve farther, that it feems to be in 
 a great meafure borrowed from Baj'Ie*s explanation concerning the 
 Marjchees, at the end of his Didlionary. 
 
 The fame fcheme which has been advanced by the writers above 
 mentioned, is, after all the cleareft anfwers given, again repeated in 
 a letter to Mr. Whifion^ 1750, and, as it (hould feem, by the fame 
 author ; but in fo wild and incoherent a way, that I muft own I 
 can make nothing of it; and therefore till he fhall be fo ingenuous 
 as to declare whether he proceeds upon the foot ai Atheifm, Delfm^ 
 or Mamcheifmy it would but be loft labour to attempt any further 
 confutation. 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion, 25 
 
 Befides, what unity or uniformity of public 
 worfhip ; what decency and order could be pre- 
 ferved in fuch a ftate of things ? If men did ever 
 affemble themfehes together, (the reafonablenefs and 
 the neceffity whereof will be apparent, fo long as 
 they are capable of having either their memories 
 refrefhed, or their affections raifed by fenfible ob- 
 jefts; — fo long as they have either memory or 
 fenfes s /. e. fo long as they continue to be men) 
 in fuch aflemblies every one of them would have a 
 pfalm, a doSirine, a tongue, a revelation, an inter^ 
 pretation ; and what could this produce but tu- 
 mult, ftrlfe, and univerfal confufion ? This, 
 furely is not fo reafojiable a fervice, nor fo fit for 
 edification, as the prefentj not quite fo proper a 
 method to convey and preferve a fyftem of Divine 
 truths in the world, as a regular, fettled inftruc- 
 tion and hiftoric faith, grounded on a {landing, 
 written * revelation, which holds thefe forth, to- 
 gether with their proofs, to every one; and offers 
 them to the view and examination of all ages. 
 
 When fome of thefe things are a little attend- 
 ed to, we may perhaps be convinced that either 
 the fame, or as great objections w^ould lie againft 
 any other afTignable method of communicating a 
 religion to mankind. 
 
 If then neither all men could be made equally 
 wife and perfect, — nor religion be at once equally 
 communicated to them all; — if the prefent laws 
 of our nature are the beft that could be 3 — and as 
 
 fuch, 
 
 * The advantage of this, above Oral Tradition, may be feen in 7/7- 
 /fl/>/;,Vol. 2. Fol. Serm.73. p.549. or Z^C/tr^ Harm. 3 DiiT. p. 615. 
 
2,6 Of the want of Ujiiverfality 
 
 fuch, ought to remain inviolate ;> and we be left to 
 the common methods of informing ourfelves, in 
 all natural as well as fupernatural truths : — it 
 will follow, in the laft place, that Chriftianity 
 could not have been propagated otherwife than 
 in fa£l it is, namely, in a gradual, progreflive, 
 partial manner. 
 
 Let it be proclaimed at firft never fo far and 
 wide, yet the reception and continuance of it muft 
 in a great meafure, we fee, depend on mens own 
 difpofitions, both natural and moral. Some pre- 
 vious, as well as concomitant qualifications are 
 requifite to the due exercife, and influence of it, 
 as well in private men, as public flates and com- 
 munities : fo that, among a people funk in igno- 
 rance or bai'barity ; where there is no kind of 
 good order or government eftablifhed, no regu- 
 lar forms of education inftituted and obferved ; 
 where there is an univerfal want of difcipline, and 
 a diffolutenefs of manner3 ; there Chriftianity can- 
 not fubfift. 
 
 Miracles were indeed neceflary to gain atten- 
 tion, and give authority to it at firfl j but the 
 perpetuity of them \\\ any kind would (as we have 
 feen) weaken that very attention, and deftroy 
 their own authority. When therefore a religion 
 has once been fufficiently promulged by divine 
 authority, it muft thenceforth be committed to 
 human means ; left to the condutl of that na- 
 tion or fociety in which it is planted, and by their 
 care be handed down to pofterity: it muft be 
 preferved and propagated in a natural way, and 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion, if 
 
 by the ordinary courfe of providence ; or elfe there 
 is no avoiding the ill confequences above-men- 
 tioned; namely, perpetual enthufiafm or grofs 
 impofture. As a fyftem of divine dodrmes and 
 rules of life, it muft be fubjeft to the common 
 methods of inftruaion; and taught as all other 
 fcience is. Youth of all kinds are to be principled, 
 and grounded in it; and fome inftruaed in thofe 
 other parts of learning, which may fit them for a 
 due enquiry into its original evidence ; for under- 
 ftanding the true nature, ends, and ufes of it; and 
 conveying the fame knowledge down to future 
 ages. Some orders of men likewife muft be fet 
 apart, and authorifed to explain and inculcate it; 
 to defend its doarines, as well as to infpea and 
 urge the praaice of its precepts. 
 
 From all which it appears, that ignorant, un- 
 civilized, flavifti, and brutifti nations, are no lefs 
 incapable * of duly receiving fuch an inftitution, 
 than they are of all thofe other fciences, arts, 
 
 im- 
 
 • Bv beinc' incapable of recei'ving it, I mean incapable of receiving 
 ^mh,ful; o°f retaining or applying it to any valuable purpofe; tor 
 which men do not feem properly qualified, notwithftanding any na- 
 tural capacity, without aid from the liberal arts and other accom- 
 pUfhments, in fome degree. Moll of the /W/>/.; are, 1 doubt not. 
 capable of underftanding the principles of our tii.tk at the firft pro- 
 pofa! ; bat fcarcely qualified, I think, to make a right ufe. and re- 
 ceive the falutary efFedls thereof; to let it fir.k into the heart .and 
 form the temper, for «rant of fome farther pair.s bemg taken to im- 
 plant worthy principles of civil government and focial life amongft 
 fhem: without which, all endeavours to iiitroauce the pureft and 
 moft perfea fyftem of religion feem prepoilerous. A fafficient proot 
 of this may be feen in the Complete colkaicn of voyages, ^c Vo . 11. 
 B. I. c. 3. $ 20. p. Jl I, 3'2- Comp. Modern part of U„rverfal H,f- 
 tcn. B. 18. c.5. Concerning the early plantation of Chriftianity 
 aniong the rartars and Chineje, fee Mr,Jheim Hift. rart. Ecclefiaft. p. 
 • 8, 9, &c. or Eccl. Hift. Eng. V. 2. c. i . 
 
iS Of the want of Vniverfality 
 
 improvements, which polifh and adorn the reft 
 of mankind, and make life a bleffing. 
 
 Without fome tolerable degree of learning and 
 civility, men do not feem qualified to reap the 
 benefits of the Chrijlian inftitution; and together 
 withthefe, they generally do receive it; the fame 
 human means ferving to improve their notions 
 in religion, which help to enlarge their knowledge 
 in all other fubjeds; and at the fame time dire£l- 
 ing them to, and in a natural way, enabling them 
 to arrive at, the moft perfeft difpenfation of it. 
 
 One of the chief reafons commonly afiigned 
 for the fjnefs of the time of Chrlft's appearing in 
 the world, was the extent of learning and com- 
 merce through all the then known parts of it -f- ; 
 which tended very much to open mens minds, 
 and qualify them to receive his inftitutlon ; as 
 well as paved the way for a more general com- 
 munication of it : but as there were many at that 
 time not able to bear it^ fo on the fame account, 
 neither yet are they able, nor will they be, till by 
 reafon ofife thex have their fenfcs exercifedy to difcern 
 
 both 
 
 t This IS more fully explained in the following difcourfes. Part 
 JI. I fha'l only beg leave here to introduce the teftimony of a candid 
 and judicious writer, who appears to entertain right notions both of 
 the nature of the Chriftian mflitution and of the bed mean*; for the 
 propagation and fupportof it, and who has fupplied us with the mofl 
 valuable colledlion of ancient evidences of its truth. * Men muft be 
 
 * rational and civilized, before they can beChriflians. Knowledge 
 
 * has a happy tendency to enlarge the mind, and encourage generous 
 
 * fentiments. Hereby we may hope to deliver men from fuperfti- 
 
 * tion, bigotry and perfecution, which have been fome of the greateft 
 
 * blcmifhes in the human condu£l. As arts and fciences are now in 
 
 * a flourifhing condition, in a great part of the world, we may hope 
 
 * it will have a kindly influence, and contribute to the advancement 
 
 * of Chrifcianity, in its genuine purity and pcrfeftion.' Lardner\ 
 large Collei^tion of Jewifh and Heathen Tellimonies, Vol. 4. p. ult. 
 
 % 
 
 
 /;/ Natural and Revealed Religion. 29 
 
 both good and evil: till their rational faculties be 
 enlarged and improved ; their natural genius cul- 
 tivated and refined y which feems in a good mea- 
 fure to conftitute their refpe6live ////f/i of time ■*• 
 And as barbarous and favage nations are un- 
 able to hear the truth; fo vicious, debauched, 
 
 im* 
 
 • That the Chinefe in particular, from whom fome have thoughc 
 that the ftrongeft argument might be drawn againft what is here 
 fuggefted, and whofe learning and education have therefore been in- 
 dullrioufly cried up, are very far from deferving fo great a charadler, 
 {^^Renaudot*% differtation on their learning, Ancieiit accounts of India 
 and China y p. 200. Terry* % 'voyage to the Eafi-Indiesy fedl. 12. and 21, 
 Trauels of federal mi ffionersy p. 180, i^c. Millar's hijiory of the propa- 
 gation of chrifianityy Vol. II. p. 266, &c. Mod. Univ. HijL B. 17. C. 
 I. fed. 4. and B. 18. c. 9. fed. 11. note P. or Le Comte's memoirs, 
 paffim. I (hall give one palpable inftance, from the laft mentioned 
 author, of abfurdity more than tolerated ; and that in a branch of 
 philofophy, for which they have been oft particularly celebrated. 
 * All nations have ever been aftonilhed 2Xeclipfes, becaufe they could 
 not difcover the caufe of them : there is nothing fo extravagant as the 
 feveral reafons fome have given for them ; but one would wonder that 
 the Chinefe, who, as to aftronomy, may claim feniority over all the 
 world befides, have reafoned as abfurdly on that point as the reit. 
 They have fancied, that in Heaven there is a prodigious great dra- 
 gon, who is a profefTed enemy to the fun and moon, and ready at all 
 times to eat them up. For this reafon, as foon as they perceive an 
 eclipfe, they all make a terrible rattling with drums and brafs ket- 
 tles, till the monfter frightned at the noife, lets go his prey, Perfons 
 of quality, who have read our books, have for thefe feveral years been 
 undeceived : but the old culloms (efpecially if the fun lofeth his light) 
 are ftill obferved at Pekin^ which, as h ufual, are both very fuperfti- 
 tious and very ridiculous. While the allronomers are on the towers 
 to make their obfervations, the chief Mandarines belonging to the 
 Lipou fall on their knees, in a hall or court of the palace, looking 
 attentively that way, and frequently bowing towards the fun, to 
 exprefs the pity they take of him 5 or rather to the dragon to beg 
 him not to moleft the world, by depriving it of fo necefiaiy a planet.*^ 
 Le ComtCy p. 70. Ed. 1738. comp. p. 93, &c. and lett. 8. 
 
 From their notorious ignorance of, and contempt for the reft of 
 the world, and great averfenefs to any communication with it, till 
 of very late years, we may eafily account for this flow progrefs of 
 theirs, both in the knowledge of nature and revealed religion, not- 
 withftanding their having had very confiderable means of improv- 
 ing both in their hands for fome time ; nor are they wanting in peine 
 of genius, as may be feen in the fame excellent author. Comp. Bcxr-^ 
 nardine*^ account of China, c. 9. or Eianchim Hift. Univerf. ^— But 
 tiu^ will come in more largely under the IIP Part. 
 
■' I! 
 
 , I 
 
 ■J 
 
 - ! 
 
 30 Of the want of Unherfality 
 
 immoral ones, are in like manner incapable of 
 bringing forth the fruits thereof. If fuch a people 
 did receive the true religion, they would foon 
 drop it again, as many nations moft undoubtedly 
 have done ; at leaft they would lofc the fpirit, 
 life, and power of it; and then the bare name, 
 and outward form will not be worth enquiring 
 after : nay, much better would it be, if thefe were 
 quitted too, together with the other. Chrijlianity 
 cannot immediately transform mens minds, and 
 totally change the general temper and complexion 
 of any people ; but on the contrary, it will thereby 
 itfelf undergo confiderable alteration; and its 
 own influence and effeft in a great meafure de- 
 pend thereon : With the pure, it will be pure, and 
 they that are otherwife will foon defile it ; will 
 either corrupt it with fables and abfurd tradi- 
 tions ; or turn it into licentioufnefs, and carnal 
 pohcy : as was* evidently the cafe under the Roman 
 Empire, and might be fhewn to be fo, more or 
 lefs, under every human empire, or eftablifh- 
 
 ment. 
 
 Thus did the Eaftern nations, and were over- 
 whelmed with Mahometanifm * ; and thus did a 
 great part of Africa. To the like caufes, in all 
 probability, as well as the negled and mifbeha- 
 viour of its propagators and profeffors, (which 
 have been here but too remarkable f ) it is owing 
 
 that 
 
 + Of'theVormer, alarge account maybe feen in M&r-s hift. c. 8. 
 p. 374, ^84. ^9>. &=• »"d <=• 9, P- 376, &c Add Bp. f^rt'T'ons 
 obfervltion atiheendofSea. 6. p. 306, &c. "^D.'u.Leg.z^^A 
 and Kalm'i Travels into North Ammca. V. 3- P- 27°- As to the 
 
 
 in IStatural and Revealed Religion. 3 1 
 
 that true religion makes no greater progrefs in 
 the Eaft and Weft Indies. Though, it muft be 
 owned, great and good things have been done 
 in it of late, by focieties eftablifhed for that pur- 
 pofe ', and none perhaps have been more diligent 
 and difcreet than our own : which providence 
 feems to have countenanced, in an efpecial man- 
 ner; opening a way for far greater undertakings 
 of this kind, by that immenfe traft of territory 
 lately ceded to us in America -y where we are at full 
 liberty to proceed in the good and glorious work 
 of civilizing the natives, and communicating our 
 Religion to them in the greateft purity we ever 
 yet enjoyed it, without oppofition from any rival 
 power. An opportunity, which has been often 
 and earneftly wiflied for by our miflionaries. May 
 we not fail now to make the proper ufe of it ! 
 
 But it would exceed the limits of this difcourfe, 
 to enquire into the ftate of every Heathen coun- 
 try, in order to fee what probable reafons might 
 be affigned, for either their firft rejecting, or not 
 
 ftill 
 
 latter, we cannot butobferve the great and general prejudice, which 
 muft prevail in both the Indies againft all Europeans^ from the injuri- 
 ous treatment they have often received from us, as may be feen in al- 
 moft every late account of voyages, &c. See Travels of y^///. Vol. 2. 
 paffim ; particularly p. 370 *. Nor are the frequent quarrels among 
 Chriftians themfelves, and their ill ufageof each other in the articles 
 of trade efpecially, a lefs prejudice againft their profeffion : which 
 ever received the greateft check from the divifion raifed among its 
 propagators ; as was remarkably the cafe not long ago in China, See 
 Mod, Uni'v, Hijl, Fol. V. 3. p. $69, &c. 
 
 Thefe obfervations might be carried a great way towards account- 
 ing for the flow progrefs of Chriftianity among fuch nations as feem 
 otherwife not ill qualified at prefent for the reception of it; but that 
 they are not to be carried fo far as thofe perfons have done, who 
 pretend that Chriftians firft taught the people of ^wmr^ to be wick- 
 ed, fee Bajle's Did. art. Leon, Vol. III. p. 773. Comp. BenfotCz 
 Appendix to his Reafonablcnefs, &c, d. 302. 303. 
 
 I, 
 
 fe 
 
: i 
 
 32 Of the want ofUniverfality 
 
 jftill retaining Chrijiianity *. Perhaps it may be 
 enough to have given thefc general hints ; which 
 though they were founded on mere conjefture^ 
 yet till fuch an hypothefis can be difproved from 
 faft, we ought rather to acqulefce in them, than 
 confidently arraign Divine Providence, and cen- 
 fure its ways with man, in matters of the laft 
 importance. But, I hope, arguments may be 
 drawn from them, fufficient to flop the mouths 
 of our adverfaries : a more particular difcuffion 
 of which, will be the fubjeft of fome following 
 difcourfes. 
 
 I Ihall only beg leave at prefent to add an ob- 
 fervation or two, concerning a diverfity of religion 
 in general, and the cafe of thofe who cannot at- 
 tain to the knowledge of the Chrijlian. 
 
 And firft, Though I fee no reafon to affirm 
 with fome, that God takes equal delight in the 
 various kinds of worfliip, which come to be 
 eftablifhed in the world; and that a fpecific dif- 
 ference in religion is, in itfelf, and abftraftly con- 
 fidered, equally acceptable to him, with that di- 
 verfity of beings w^iich he conltituted : on the con- 
 trary, I think, he has plainly difcovered one moft 
 perfeft ftandard, and requires all men to approach 
 as near it as they can ; and may be faid to approve 
 every approach to it, and prefer that to its oppo- 
 fite; in the fame manner as he does every other 
 excellence, and improvement of the human 
 mind J where he intends perpetual advancement. 
 
 as 
 
 • See Joriinh difcourfcs concerninp: the truth of the Chrillian Rel. 
 Difc. 1. and remarks on Ecd. Hill. Vol 111. p. 428, &c. 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. 3 3 
 
 as we have feen — yet from what has been already 
 faid, Thus much will appear, viz. That one of 
 thefe is in fome meafure a ncceflary confequence 
 of the other, during the prefent laws of nature, 
 in the moral and intellectual world : a difference 
 of rank, and capacity, among men, muft needs 
 produce an equal difference in their religious no- 
 tions, as was Ihewn above; fuch difference there- 
 fore, in degree of perfe6lion, is made neceffary 
 by the conflitution of things, and the general 
 difpenfations of Providence; and w^hat by the 
 ordinary courfe of Divine Providence is to men 
 in fome circumftances rendered unavoidable, that 
 the Divine Goodnefs will, in thefe circumftances, 
 moft undoubtedly excufe, and accept with all its 
 imperfeftions ^. 
 
 The fame thing obtains remarkably in each 
 particular fyftem, even of Chrijiianity itfelf; which 
 to different perfons, and in different times and 
 places, appears in a very different light: though 
 fo m.uch always, every where, lies level to all, as 
 is abfolutely required of each ; and fo much alfo 
 as will, or might, have a very confiderable influ- 
 ence upon their lives and manners • And the 
 fame may in a great meafure be affirmed oi modern 
 Heathens *y the generality of whom ftill preferve, 
 in fome degree, the great fundamental principles 
 of one fupreme God^ a Providence^ and futui^e 
 
 State-, 
 
 • See Rymer'*s Gen. Repr. of Rev. Rel. c. 6. *Tis a beauty in 
 Providence to advance in the difpenfations of religion ; to propofe 
 various perfeaions in piety and virtue upon earth, and anfwer them 
 with refpe<5live promotions in heaven, p. 152. 
 
i' * 
 
 34 Of the IV ant of UniverfalUy 
 
 State-, as authors of the beft credit have affurcd 
 
 , us *. 
 
 Secondly. As to the cafe of thefe people in 
 general, we may confider, that if they have fewer 
 and lefs advantages than others, their natures and 
 capacities muft likewife be inferior ^ to which 
 their future ftate may be proportioned: God is 
 
 ' not obliged to make all men equally perfect in 
 the next world, any more than in this^ and if 
 their capacity be rendered lefs than that of 3n 
 ordinary Chrijiian, a lower degree of happinefs 
 
 may fill it. 
 
 However, we need not be extremely folicitous 
 about their eftate; much lefs caft any ungrateful 
 imputation on the Governour of the world, for 
 not having dealt fo bountifully with them as 
 with ourfelves ; fmce we know that, in all cafes, 
 every one will at length be accepted according to 
 that he has, and not according to that he has not ; 
 and that to ivhcmfccoer much is given, of him JJ:all 
 much be required. We know that all their fouls 
 are in the hand of a moft merciful Creator, all 
 whofe ways are tquah, and who will moft affuredly 
 deal with every one according to what is juft and 
 right. But of this more hereafter. 
 
 I come, in the laft place, briefly to obferve the 
 great benefit of complying with the terms of the 
 gofpel, and the inexcufeablenefs of rejefting it. 
 
 The 
 
 ♦ A colleaion of them may be Teen In St/jMou/eh B. of Div. Parr 
 -5. C.8. 5 2, 3. p. 528, &c. or Millar's HiH, of the Prop, c J, &c. 
 €omp. Mac/, Um^v. Hiji, Fol. V. 3. B. 14, c. 8. and Crant;:. Hift. of 
 Cmnland^ B. 3, c. 5. 5 l"^^ Scq. 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. 3 5 
 
 The benefit of the Chriftian inftitution, above 
 all others, appears in that it naturally /ifi men for 
 an higher degree of happinefs, as well as entitles 
 them to it, by pofitive covenant. It gives them 
 more juft and worthy notions of the divine Be- 
 ing, and the relation they bear to him 5 and of 
 the duties which refult from that relation. It 
 explains, improves, exalts all thofe virtues and 
 good difpofitions, which are the immutable y^r/;;- 
 dation of happinefs, both in this world and the 
 next. It directs us to add to our faith virtue, to 
 virtue knowledge, to knowledge tempera?2ce, to 
 temperance patience, to patience godlinefs, to god- 
 linefs brotherly kindnefs, and to brotherly kindnefs 
 charity. It propofes to our ftudy, whatfoever things 
 are true^ — honefi, — jufi, — pure, — lovely, — and 
 of good report \ and binds all thefe upon us v/ith 
 the AvongcO: fan^ions: at once giving us the moft 
 ample inftruftion in, and warm incitement to, 
 the praftice of our duty 5 and aff^ording all fit, 
 neceflary means of ^r^^^, in order to prepare and 
 train ns up for glory. And thus, as St. Peter 
 fays, ha/h the Father given unto us all things that 
 pertain taito life and godlinefs, through the knowledge 
 of htm that hath called us unto glo7y and virtue -, — 
 that at le?jgth we inight he partakers of the divine 
 
 NATURE. 
 
 The great condition of this covenant is ex- 
 prefied in the text, an4 many other parts of fcrip- 
 ture, by Repentance : repentance from dead works, 
 and fervlng the living God\ to which is annexed 
 
 c 2 the 
 
'i 
 
 ^6 Of the want of Vniverfality 
 
 the very comfortable and much wanted aflurancef 
 of entire Forgivenefs *. "• 
 
 This was the fubftance of our Saviour's preach- 
 ing, and what the apoftles continually tejlificd, both 
 to the Jews,, and alfo to the Greeks y namely repent- 
 ance towards Godf-, that is, a thorough reforma- 
 tion of mind and temper -, a renouncing of this 
 world, its vanities and vices > and an improvement 
 in all thofe graces and good habits, which are ab- 
 folutely and indifpenfably neceffary to fit us for 
 the prefence of God ; the fociety of angels ; and 
 the fpirits of juft men made perfc6t. 
 
 How gracious a defign this ! how rcafonable, 
 and holy an inftitution ! How ftrongly muft it 
 recommend itfelf to every man^s judgment and 
 confcience, when once rightly underftood ! And 
 what infinite reafon have we to give continual 
 thanks unto the Father, who hath not only pre- 
 pared for us an inheritance; but like wife laboured 
 to make us meet to be partakers of it, among the 
 faints in light ! And howjhall we efcape if we negleSi 
 fo great fahation^ How difmgenuous, and un- 
 grateful mufi it be, to refufe and put it from us! 
 How dangerous, to contemn and blafpheme it! 
 
 Rather, may the mercies of God, in Chrijl 
 Jeftis, engage every one of us in time to obey the 
 divine precept in the text ; to fhake off all our 
 vices, fuch as the lieathcns of old delighted in, 
 and which betray too many now a days into the 
 like ftates and blind their eyes, and harden their 
 
 hearts, 
 
 ♦ SeeDr.OTff;/, B. L. 5i8. rr. rv a7 rr 
 
 f Ads XX. 21. V. infra Note e. p. 291 •and y^e'rysTraa5,V.U, 
 
 p. 233. or Bp. Bradford'^ B. Lc^. Serm. ^. 
 
 in Natural and Revealed Religion. 37 
 
 hearts, againft all poffibleconviftion,'— namely, 
 pride, covetoufnefs, and fenfuality. May we all 
 comply with the apoftle's advice, in walkijig cir- 
 £wnfpe£lly towards them that are without ; fince the 
 reafon affigned is, in fome refpecls, of as great 
 force at prefent; — ^ becaufe the days are evil. As 
 infidelity ftill abounds, and the love of many 
 ^axeth coldy we, who profefs the faith of Chrijl, 
 and think we have more perfect underftanding of 
 it, and are to communicate the fame to others ; 
 ought to contend fo much the more earnefily for it, 
 and labour to adorn the do^rine of our Lord in all 
 things. 
 
 To our daily prayers, therefore, let us add our 
 conftant endeavours, that the kingdom ofGpd may 
 £ome on thofe who have not yet received it ; and 
 be reftored in purity, and perfe6lion, to fucl;^ as 
 have unhappily rejected it: and finally, let us 
 beware left in any of us be found an evil heart of 
 unbelief 'y let us take care that we be not of thofe, 
 who, either in principle, or pra6lice, draw back 
 unto perdition; but of them that believe y to thefavitig 
 of the foul. 
 
 ^ 3 
 
 Part 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Scheme of Providence, 
 
 With regard to 
 
 The Tme and Manner of the feveral 
 Dilpenfations of Revealed Religion. 
 
 Crcfcat igltur cportet^ et multum vehementerque proficiat, tamfingu* 
 brum quam omnium^ tarn unm hor.inis quam toiius ecckfia^ ata^ 
 turn ac feculoru7n gradibus^ intelligentia^fcientia^fapUntla, Vine. 
 Lir, Common, i. 28. 
 
 Ifwifdom and underjlanding he to he found with the ancient, and 
 in length of days^ that time is the olde/I from which men appeal 
 to the infancy of the world-, and this advances more the veneration 
 that is always due to the grey hairs of the aged^ who mufi he pre^ 
 fumed to. know ?nore than the young \ who likewife fhall have much 
 to anfwer^ if when they ccme to he oldy they do not know more^ and 
 judge better than they could ^ ivho were old before them. And this 
 is the bejl way to preferve the reverence that is due to age^ by hop' 
 ing and believing that the next age miy know more and be better^ 
 than that in ivhich we live ; and not to rob that of the refpe£i that 
 will fill be due to antiquity , by unreafonably imputing it to the time 
 which we have outlived, 
 
 Ld. Clarendon, E fT. p. 220. 
 
 c 4 
 
i 
 
 I I i 
 
 sBsa 
 
 The Scheme of Providence, 
 
 With regard to 
 
 The T^'me and Manner of the feveral 
 Difpenfations of Revealed Religion. 
 
 In'* 
 
 GAL. IV. 4. 
 
 But when the fulnefs of the time was come^ Godfent 
 
 forth hisfon. 
 
 TH E coming of Chrijl in the flefh is a dif- 
 ^ penfation fo full of wifdom and goodnefs, 
 that in what light foever it be viewed by us, it will 
 appear moft worthy of its divine Author. The 
 prccife time in which he was manifefted, though 
 this has been made the fubjedt of more cavils, an- 
 cient and modern, than any other circumftance 
 attending it, yet I doubt not but, upon a fair 
 examination, even this may be difcovered to bear 
 the fame chara61:ers. 
 
 On which head the following queftions are ufu- 
 ally afked. If the common Father of mankind be 
 infinite in goodnefs, and the Chrijiimi fcheme be 
 the only acceptable way of worfhipping him, and 
 abfolutely neceflary to our falvation ; why was it 
 not communicated to the world much fooner ? 
 Why was this greateft of all bleffings kept back 
 
 to 
 
w 
 
 I 
 
 42 0/ thefe'veral Difpenfations 
 
 to the laft ; — to the e?id of the world, as it is call- 
 ed * ? Nay, ' if God always a£ls for the good of 
 
 * his creatures, what reafon can be affigned why 
 
 * he fliould not from the beginning have difcovered 
 
 * fuch things as make for their good; but defer 
 ' the doing of it till the time of I'iberius -f T — 
 Moft of the adverfaries to Chrifiianity lay the 
 greateft weight on this objeftion % ; and accord- 
 ingly, feveral arguments have been offered to re- 
 move it : I fiiall fele6l fome few of them, which 
 feem the moft conclufive, and add fuch farther 
 obfervations as may help to fet the whole in a 
 
 proper light. 
 
 \Yhcn the fuhiefs of the time \ was come. — 
 The apoftle in this chapter is compaiing the 
 ages of the world, to the life of man, and its 
 feveral ftagcs; as infancy, childhood, youth, 
 maturity. If we reflect on this comparifon, we 
 ftiall find it very juft in general; and that the 
 world itfelf, or the collective body of mankind, 
 as well as each particular member, has from very 
 low beginnings proceeded by a regular gradation 
 in all kinds of knowledge ; has been making 
 
 flow 
 
 • Heb. ix. 26. 
 
 f Chiiftianity as old, &c. p. 196. 4to. 
 *' t Porphyry often urges it. V. Hieron. ad Ctefipbon, Ep.43- Z^''- 
 .ujiin. Ep, 102. So alTo Cel/us. V. Origjn, contra. L 4. C. Bkunt, 
 for the author of a letter to him figned A, W. publilhed under the 
 name oi Dryd^n, in ihe/ummary account] was fo very confident of its 
 being unanfwerable, that he was willing to reft the whole caufeof in- 
 fidelity upon it. Mifcell. works, p.210, &c. The author of CW/- 
 anity as old, &c. dwelt very largely on it in many parts of his book; 
 and not to mention Chubb and others, the author oiDeiJm fairly Jlatedy 
 ftill repeats the fame thing over and over again, from p. 87 to 95. 
 as if no anfwer had been ever made to it. 
 
 II Or, the proper >/?>///, KAIPOI lAlOl. lit. i. 3. 
 
 > • 
 
 of Revealed Religion . ^^ 
 
 flow advances towards perfe6lion, in its feveral 
 periods; and received continual improvements 
 from its infancy to this very day *. 
 
 And though in both cafes this progrefs be 
 fometimes interrupted, and the courfe of this 
 world and its inhabitants appear, like that of the 
 heavenly bodies, to fuffer fome retrogradations ; yet 
 we have reafon to believe, that thefe are fuch, for 
 the moft part, in appearance only ; that this veiy 
 lett, where it is real, makes way for a more rapid 
 progrefs afterwards; (like rivers pent up to pro- 
 duce a larger ftream, or rams retreating to return 
 with greater force) which feems to bring matters 
 into the fame ftate upon the whole, as if they 
 had been all the while progrellive: and may it- 
 felf be neceflary, in order to produce an equal 
 or proportionate happinefs among tlie different 
 nations of the earth {g). 
 
 Farther ; 
 
 * For a general explanation of this, fee Edwards's Survey of all 
 the Difpenfations of Religion,&c. vol.1, p. 396. and vol. II. p.615. 
 - 21, &c. Worthington^ EfTay on Man's Redemption, c. 8,&c. TayIor'& 
 Scheme of Script. Div. c. 3, &c. — The laft author has made fre- 
 quent ufe of this comparifon, and drawn the following parallel : 
 
 Ages of Man, 6. 16. 20. 30. 40. 50. 60. 70. 
 
 Ages of the World, 600. 1 600. "2000. 3000. 4000. 5000. 6000.7000. 
 
 But that there is no necelTity for carrying on the parallel between 
 thefe, to the decline of each in their old age, is juftly obferved by a 
 late writer. ' Here it muft be obvious, that the cafe of nations, and 
 that of individuals, are very diiFerent. The human frame has a 
 general courfe; it has, in every individual, a frail contexture, and 
 a liniited duration ; it is worn by exercife, and exhaufted by a re- 
 petition of its funaions: but in a Society, whofe conftituent mem- 
 bers are renewed in every generation ; where the race feems to enjoy 
 perpetual youth, and accumulating advantages, we cannot by any 
 parity of reafon, expeft to find imbecillities conne^ed with mere 
 age, and length of days.' Fergufon, Hift. of Civ. Societv. p* 320. 
 Comp. Priejiley on Government, Introd. p. 5, &c. 
 
 {g) Thus there may be fuch a circulation in both the natural and 
 
 moral circumftances of all conftitutions, as is commonly obferved, 
 
 * wichoat 
 
 ^ 
 
 H*^'^ 
 

 44 Of the fever al Difpejifatlcns 
 
 Farther ; every one that looks into the hiftory 
 of the world, mull obferve, that the minds of 
 
 men 
 
 without any prejudice to the general progrefs in perfcaion, on the 
 whole ; nay, that may become in fome relpeas produaive of it ; a 
 corrupted people fall by their corruptions, and fome new ones better 
 conflituted and difpofed rife upon their ruins. Whenever an exer- 
 tion of the fame (kill and fagacity, politic or ceconomical; a dil- 
 play of the fame hardy virtues which raifed the fortunes of a ftate or 
 family, ^ix. courage, induftry, frugality, is no longer efteemed ne- 
 ceffary for ito fupport, but gives way to an indulgence of theoppo- 
 fite qualities ; fuch ftate will fink again, and generally become a prey 
 to fome more potent rival, who is in the afccnding fcale, and culti- 
 vating thofe very virtues by which the other rofe and flourifhcd ; till 
 that, going on in the fame courfe, fuffers likewife the fame revolu- 
 tion : by which means the feat of empire, opulence, fplendor, polite- 
 nefs, is often changed in every quarter of the world, without any real 
 diminution, even' of thofe particular virtues which produce them, 
 on the whole; much lefs of virtue and happinefs m general ; but 
 rather with a more univerfal and equal diftribuUon of the feveral 
 benefits and bleffings among men at large; and the affording each 
 clafs like means and opportunities of improving themfelves in thelc 
 refpeas, as well as in the liberal arts, which indeed ufually attend 
 upon each other. * The greateft bleffmg that can befall a ftate, 
 which is rigid and inftexible in its inftitutions, is to be conquered 
 by a people who have a better government, and have made farther 
 advances in the arts of life. And it is undoubtedly a great advan- 
 ta<^e which the Divine Being has provided for this world, that con- 
 qiTefts and revolutions ftiould give mankind an opportunity of re^ 
 Forming their fyftems of government, and of improving the fcience 
 of it, which they would never have found themfelves.' P neji ley ovi 
 the firft Principles of Government, p. 1 35. '.Were it not for thef^ 
 
 * great ftiocks,' fays a Royal author, « the univerfe would continue 
 « always the fame, and there would be no equality m the fate of 
 
 • nations.' Effay on the progrefs of the underftanding in Arts and 
 Sciences. Memoirs of the H. of ^r^»^-?«^«r§-. p. 294' , 
 
 The fame obfcrvation may be applied to religious knowledge ; and 
 is fo applied, with a few leading faas from hiftory to confirm it, by 
 Mr. Rotheram, in his Serm. on the Wifdom of Providence. ^ 
 
 The fame way of reafoning which is ufed to prove that each indi- 
 vidual attains to a greater (um of happinefs upon the whole from 
 low beginnings, from fucceflivc alterations, and gradual aavances in 
 his feveral ftates; than if he had fet out at firft and continued always 
 fixed even in what is deemed thehigheft; ^i%. from the very nature 
 of intelleaual happinefs, which is chiefly relati<ve, confifting in the 
 refleaion on man's prefent fituation compared with that wherein he 
 once was ; or fees others round him now to be : The fame argument 
 may be applied with equal propriety to nations and communities, 
 as being compofed of individuals, all in like circumftances, and 
 
 tf Revealed Religion. 4^. 
 
 men have all along been gradually opened by a 
 train of events, ftill improving upon, and adding 
 light to each other; as that of each individual is, 
 by proceeding from the firlt elements and feeds of 
 fcience, to more enlarged views ; and a ftill higher 
 growth. Mankind are not, nor ever have been, 
 capable of entering into the depths of knowledge 
 at once; of receiving a whole fyftem of natural 
 or moral truths together ; but muft be let into 
 them by degrees; and have them communicated 
 by little and little, as they are able to bear it. In 
 
 this 
 
 therefore under the like wife difpenfations of Piovidence. See note 
 19 to ABp. King. Orig. of Evil. p. ic8 - 9, 4th Ed. 
 
 How gradually improvements were carrying on in moft parts of 
 the World through feveral of its darkeft ages, by fteps opening the 
 way for ftill higher approaches to perfedion, may be fsen in 
 Robert/on' s \\ji^\<i\oK!i% obfervations. Hift. of Ch. V. Thus abfolutely 
 rude Barbarifm gives way \.o feudal tenures and a ftanding Militia; 
 thefe to general Laws and a regular adminiftration of Juftice; to 
 more liberal Communities^ p. 30. free Cities, p. 32. and equal diftri- 
 bution of Property. Chiuahy and Crufades introduce generofity, a 
 fenfe of honour, and a ftrong fpirit of religion however imperfea 
 and confufed. p. 69. To thefe fucceed morepoliflied manners, legal 
 fettlements, and more found policy ; courts of juftice are fet up, 
 civil and ecclefiaftical conftitutions formed, and jurifprudence re- 
 duced to a fcience : general good is educed out of private evils, 
 or a more pure and perfed ftate raifed from a mixed and partial 
 one. Thus did the Roman conquefts civilize and polifti Europe: when 
 that unwieldy Empire was corrupted and enervated, it gave way to 
 more barbarous nations, but fuch as brought along with them liber- 
 ty and independance, and laid the foundation of our prefent more 
 happy and better pois'd conftitutions. From the thick cloud of 
 Popery burfts out a brighter light than ever fhone upon the world 
 fince the iirft planting Chriftianity, with the revival of Letters^ 
 notwithftanding their defefts and abufes ; p. 74,75. We cannot 
 help difcerningtheir mighty influence on ilf^w^rj, p. 76. and txtry 
 means of improving the mind of man as well as bettering his con- 
 dition. Hence the eftablifliment of numerous Schools and Univer- 
 fities, the extenfion oi Commerce \v\\\\ all its beneficial effe(^s, p. 81. 
 the adjufting Property, p. 40. and fixing a Balance of power, p. 1 12. 
 and at length producing the ineftimable b'efTmg of a Tcleration in 
 religious matters, V. 3. 336. Nay even the inftitution of that moft: 
 peftilent order of Jejuits is obferved to come attended with beneii* 
 cial confequcnces. V. 2. 455, 
 
Ill: 
 
 t "I 
 
 I* i ■' 
 
 m 
 
 'I 
 
 ^6 Of the fever al Difpenfatiom 
 
 this manner does every art and fcience make its 
 way into the world : And though now and then 
 an extraordinary genius may arife, and reach as 
 it were fome ages beyond that in which he hves ; 
 yet how very few of his contemporaries are able 
 to follow him, or even underftand what he deli- 
 vers ! The generality ftill go on ftep by ftep in 
 gathering up, and digefting, fome fmall portions 
 of that vaft ftock of knowledge, which he poured 
 out at once; and are for a long time in refpeft 
 to him, but mere children. So that, notwith- 
 ftanding a few fuch extraordinary inftances, I 
 think, we may affirm in general, that from the 
 beginning of the world, fcience, or all kinds of 
 intelleaual accompliiliments, have been found to 
 make very flow, and pretty regular advances a- 
 mong the bulk of mankind ; but that upon the 
 whole, advancing they have been, and are. 
 
 This, I fay, is generally fo in fad; and there- 
 fore will to a certain degree, have place in reli- 
 ffious, as well as all other truths*, among men 
 ^ either 
 
 • A more particular proof of this will be given in the IIP Part. 
 Nor will it on examination be found inconf.ftent with the obferva- 
 tionof a late judicious writer. [J./n:^. Trafts V. 2. p. .97. &c.] 
 concerning the facred hiftory of religion under the ^"'""f/^f^' >"• 
 and ChriLns, viz. That in every ftate there is firft of all the hft.- 
 tution, then the Corruptions, and laftly the Reformanon of it ; fince 
 (not o mention the occaf.on of this, which in part anfe. from the 
 iatural imperfedion of its mode of conveyance, as obferved below) 
 we have reafon to believe, that in each thorough reformation of re- 
 Ugion. there is fomething raifed above the primitive ft^"<l"f •"♦''« 
 minds of its recipients; that men are generally prepared to enter 
 more fully into the plan and fpirit of it, to arrive at a more clear 
 Tnd compute difcov^ry of its feveral ends an^lufes than at its ori- 
 Zal inftitution. Vid. infra P^. Ill, p. 26Z. Nor do we fay that 
 fvery nation has improved in its religious notices. evadUy as it does 
 tl leaning and politenefs ; or that one of thcfe ou£h^ to keep pace 
 
 of Revealed Religisn. aj 
 
 either taken coUeftively, or in each individual. 
 Why the cafe is tlius in both ; why all are not 
 adult at once, in body and mind, concerns not 
 revelation to account for, fo much as the religion 
 of nature ; at leaft they are here as in the former 
 cafe, both on the fame foot ; and the fame prin- 
 ciples may be applied to each of them. And 
 though in this refpeft, the divine difpnfations 
 fcem to differ from human arts and fciences, that 
 thefe are commonly the moft rude and imperfetl 
 at firft, and eveiy part of them improving by 
 repeated trials ; whereas the others have all that 
 purity and perfe6tion at their delivery, which in 
 their feafon they are defigned to have ; and rather 
 lofe, in fome refpe6ts, than get by length of time: 
 yet will not this make any mateiial diffei-ence on 
 the whole. 
 
 To ftate this matter right ; we ought to diftin- 
 guifli as well between the delivery of a doftrine, 
 and its general reception in the world ; which is 
 according to the meafure of the recipients only ; 
 and which muft chiefly depend upon the ftate, 
 and qualifications of the age they live in : as alfo, 
 between the fupernatural affiftance, and extraor- 
 dinary impreflions, at its firft publication; and 
 
 tlie 
 
 with the other ; fince a fuppofed diverfity in their original will con- 
 flitute a very notorious diflerence in this refpeft ; the former may 
 have been at firft communicated to mankind in all its purity and 
 fimplicity ; may long continue fuch, or fuffer afterwards in its con- 
 veyance by tradition ; while men were kft in a great meafure to 
 themfelves perhaps in the acquirement of the latter, which murt by 
 confequence receive a gradual incrcafe by their repeated efforts : 
 and that difparity obfervable between the ftate and progrefs of thefe 
 two in feveral countries, is no bad proof that this was aflualiy the 
 cafe. See Leland's Advantage and Neceffity of the Chriftian Revela- 
 tion. V. I. c. 20. 
 
 n 
 
I • 
 
 4.8 Of the fever al Difpenfations 
 
 the ordinary ftate in which it ufually appears, 
 fnd the common progrefs it will -^^^ f -n 
 as ever thefe fhall come to ceafe, and it is lett to 
 be continued by mere human means ; (as we have 
 fhewn before that it muft be fometime or othei) 
 when we (hall find it partaking of the tafte and 
 Temper of the times through which it pafles ; and 
 confequently propagated in the f^jne gradua 
 partial manner, as all other parts of fcience, all 
 
 human acquifitions and i^^P^^^^;"'^ .^f *. , 
 Let us proceed then to confider the feve.al 
 
 difpenfations of religion in this ligl^t'/"'^ jf 
 whether each will not appear to have been de- 
 livered in its proper /.>, and as ^^onj^^^- 
 came fully neceffary , and hkewife wheth 1 each 
 was not as perfed as it could be fuppofed to have 
 been, confidering the feafon in winch it wa. d - 
 liveredj and every fubfequent one, an improve- 
 ment on all thofe that went before. 
 
 We will enquire firft, what provifion God 
 made for the inftrudion of mankind in the in- 
 fancy of the worlds and whether it was expedient 
 {o fend his Son upon their firft trajifgreffionu 
 
 Now we have reafon to fuppofe that Adam, 
 during his ftate of innocence, held frequent com- 
 
 • ■ • -ii, 4-l-,P Deitv*- from whence he 
 munication with the Ueity , iiui ^^^^.^gj 
 
 . A hintoffuch communication on the^^^^^^^^ 
 ted by A^a. himfelf. -gether wuh the jene^l j;r P ^^^p„,| 
 Marriage, grounded on it, occurs in ^ 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 49 
 
 received his information of things, and was di- 
 refted in the ufe of themf . And if he had bee.i 
 content to follow that direftion, he would un- 
 doubtedly have been fecured from any pernic:ou> 
 errors ; and fupplied with all the inftruftion and 
 alTiftance which was neceflary for him, and 
 trained up by degrees to as thorough an acquaint- 
 ance with the nature of God, and the things a- 
 round him, as was agreeable to his own nature; 
 and confident with his ftate and circumftances 
 in the world. But upon his rejefting this guide, 
 and applying elfewhere for knowledge, and fett- 
 ing up to be his own dire£tor(/j); that communi- 
 cation might, both with juftice and wifdom, be 
 in a great meafure withdrawn from him, and he 
 left to the imperfeft notice of his fenfes ; to learn 
 the nature of good and evil, and the way to ob- 
 tain the one, and avoid the other, by a painful 
 experience*. Yet was he not left wholly to him- 
 felf in the affair of religion ; but directed to fuch 
 a form of worfliip, as ferved to point out, and 
 perpetually remind him, both of the demerit of 
 
 his 
 
 and may Include that whole tranfadlon, as all reprefented to him 
 in a deep jJetp. Concerning which mode of information fee more 
 below. Note «. 
 
 t G^f^- i- 28, — 30. ii. 19, 20. Such perfons as are apt to queftion 
 the propriety of that particular reftraint which was laid on him in 
 the ufe of food, may confult the authors cited or referred to by 
 Patrick y on Gen. ii. 17. 
 
 {h) That he intended nothing lefs than this by eating of the for- 
 bidden Tree [or trees] which was the trial of his fubmiffion to, or 
 his rejeftion of the divine government, the tej} of good and evil, or 
 that which would Ihew which of thefe he chofe, and prove whether 
 he would be good or bad, \^Patrick on Gen. ii. 9. Taj lor on Or. Si 
 
 Pt. 
 
 * S<'e ABp. Kings Sermon on the FalL And Mr. Bate on the fame 
 fubj\<rt. 
 
 D 
 
 'iIm 
 
i 
 
 t 
 
 5 
 
 PI 
 
 CO Of the feverM Difpenfiuom 
 
 his crime and the dreadfulnefs of that penalty 
 which h 'had incurred, and alfo gave \nm feme 
 Lpes of a future pardon, and a final acceptance 
 
 with his Creator. r -c a u^r the 
 
 All this fcems to have been fignificd by the 
 •"■'' uii5 i fettnsr before mm 
 
 inftitution of anmial >•//>.«, ^f .^\"S /^';" , , 
 all the horrors of that death, which he had been 
 ttt ced to undergo ; but which was h.therta 
 fuTelled. and that of Ibme other creatmcs^^^^^^^^ 
 manded probably in its room J^is to^^th i 
 with the promife of a future deliverance, in ^ 
 TlfthL>nan, ferved for the P-i-^t to alio d 
 
 •'- ^ c ..<- tr. nnr firft parents undei tlKxt 
 lome comfoit to oui niu y 
 
 heavv fentcnce; and to convince them, that tacii 
 oSd Maker was not wholly imp acable ■, as 
 wd a o lead their pofterity to fuitable notions 
 If reht on and fuch a kind of worfhip, as (l.ould 
 ^oiStlv reconcile them to the D-tV -d r - 
 move the guilt of their particular offences , ami 
 
 P. 3.] .a, be rccn in^^;'-/"S-S^^^^^^^^ 
 
 Efay i« y'ltiii, c- 2; "• ,P-, '^; .„ ot (rood and evil, the fame as 
 
 M„^.-''--f''-rr^;S"' Aetafned and ingenious 
 gratification, '^'i-„f,L,-".Henfe of the Mofaic account of the Fall 
 Dr.mrth^ngtonllUy}^--}^'-^' ^ , communications of both 
 
 proved and v^nd'catedl luppofe ^^^^ „„ ,,,,;, t.fting the 
 
 tinds of knowledge made to our mi ^^_^^ ^..^^.^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 forbidden fru.t. but not '"f,7>,^>;'f/f,,„jenion, «..•-• J- >• ot th« 
 feems rather to h^'-'^ bZ-j'^.^^^^l^a wki^ln his'other (ugge.Hon. 
 very fame kind and '° ^ '^^^.'J^/evcn inanimate beings, where- 
 of divine powers f "%^. ^ V^ .°"Vmce: nor does the fame author 
 by the world has been aclucede\crnnc 
 
 ilribe to that tree (though he ""5 «^ '^>' J^;,h create, the chief 
 W^^/c^Feftsinfufingany fortof fcjenco v^n ^^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 i'^of the difficulty - th.s po,nt Mr. D^^'!^^^.^^ ^,^, 
 chapters of Genefts, exP\-^";/' /, affcaine to become -adi in:; 
 
 p. 6. marg. 4. 
 
 cf Revealed Religion. 5 1 
 
 alfo prepare them in fome meafure for the great 
 cto7ie77tent ^ to be made in due time ; which was 
 of a much more noble and extenfive nature, 
 v/ould take off the whole of Adants curfe*, and 
 reltore both him and his pofterity to that im?nor^ 
 tal life which he had forfeited (/): Nay, raife them 
 to a much higher degree of happinefs, than he 
 could be conceived ever to enjoy in his paradifai- 
 cal ftatef . And that this rite, with all its circum- 
 ftances, was enjohied by God himfelf, and ex- 
 plained to our firft parent, is more than proba- 
 ble, even from the fliort account we have of thofe 
 times i fmce we find his two fons bringing their 
 ofterings to a certain placeij:, and well apprifed 
 (by fome vifible tokens no doubt ||) when they 
 were accepted ; as that of animal facrifice was ra- 
 ther than the other : and moft likely accepted for 
 that very reafon, becaufe it had been appointed 
 
 by 
 
 • What that really was, may be feen in Hallet*s Difcourfes, Vol. 
 II. p. 276, Sec. Sherlock* s Ufa and Intent of Proph. p. 142, 143. 
 2d Ed. Taylor on Or. Sin, paffim ; or at the beginning of Loch's 
 ReafonableneG of Chriftianity ; or in the Second DifcouiTe here- 
 unto annexed. 
 
 (/■) After all that has been wrote upon the fubjeft o^ facrifices, I 
 am fllll forced to afcribe their origin to divine appointment : and as 
 to the intention of them, though we may conceive fome to have been 
 at firll enjoined by way of Tribute, or as proper acknon^vledgetnents of 
 God's dominion over the creatures, and of man's holding that ihare 
 of it which was delegated to him from his hand, and enjoying all 
 earthly bleffings through his bounty ; — fome by way of pofitire 
 7nnl^, fney o\ forfeiture. \^Aharb. ex. com. in Le^. p. 313. Cleric, in 
 Le'v, i. 2. Morality ofRel. p. 35.] to render every breach of duty 
 
 burden- 
 
 t See ABp. Kingh note 80. p, 413, &c. 4th Ed. or Mr. Bate oa 
 the FalL 
 
 X Hch, xi, 4. Vid Interp. & Grot, in Gen. vi. Comp. Juefg. vi. /i. 
 Oi'iiij 23. See alfo Taylor, Scheme of Script. Div. p. 144. 
 
 11 Gen. iv. 3, 4. Probably by Fire, See Tenifon of Idolatry, C. 14, 
 p. 320. 
 
 D 2 
 
y 
 
 $2 Of the fever al Difpenfaiions 
 
 by God himfelf, and was performed agreeably to 
 
 his command [k). 
 
 The time of their worfliip, feems likewife to 
 have had the fame origin -y as well from God's 
 bleffing, and fanftifying the feventh day*; and 
 the ancient method of reckoning by -areks f ; (a 
 
 method 
 
 burdenfome, and in fome meafure expenfive to the finner ; — ^omc 
 for a tfjiimom, or a reprcfentation of his repentance his confcffion ot 
 fuch breach, and deprecation of its puni{hment. -^ \Jaslor, bcnpt. 
 Doa. of Atonement, p. 20. /-.r^^i's Thoughts on Religion, p. 124. 
 EJTay on the Nature and Defgn. &c. p. 32, &c.] feme as a/v/.r^/ rite 
 between God and him, or T^form of entering xx^Kcs fnendjhip with hi3 
 Maker ; [ib. paffim. Comp. Richie' % Criticifm upon Modern notions 
 of Sacrifices. App. II. pafl'.] and obtaining futureyh'L'c//n from him: 
 vet there were others that feem to have had a higher view, [or fuch 
 view might perhaps be joined with fome of thofe others above- 
 mentioned] denoting fomcwhat 'vicariouiy as well m fujermg, as in 
 the rertvard annexed to it, or t\it pri'vileges conveyed by it ; and in 
 a more fpecial manner defcribing the terms of that great covenant, 
 original grant, or promifc, whereby man was to be delivered from 
 the efFeas of the/r/ breach ; which, as fuch, xvas in each difpenfa- 
 tion thought proper to be particularly dillinguifhed. AH which ap- 
 pointments, -rants, or covenants, may likewiie be underftood (not 
 in their literal, llria fenfe, or as in themfelves abfolutely neceffary, 
 but) as fo many gracious fchemcs of government, or prudential 
 methods of oeconomy ; fo many merciful expedients to promote the 
 great end of the divine government, and fecure obedience to the 
 divine laws : treating mankind, (not like philofophers, but) as the 
 generality of them always were to be treated ; and leading them 
 gradually to :.s juft and worthy notions of God and themfelves, as 
 they became capable of receiving. - But toalcribe luch an inftitu- 
 tion, as this of facrificing animals, wholly to the invention of men, 
 cfpeciallv to the men of thofe times, feems very unnatural : of which 
 more in the following notes, and Life of ChrijL n, m, 
 
 a) Sec 5/^fr/cc/f'sUfe and Intent of Prophecy, p.73»-^'C- oriJ^wr's 
 Reprefent. p. 30. Ridh^\ Chrifiian Paflbver, &c. Richie'^ peculiar 
 Doarines of Revelation. Pt. 2. J. 49, &c. 'I'his one article of the 
 dlllinaion made between Abil\ offering, and that ot Ci//y/, which 
 according to the hillory, was fo notorious as to dejea and irritate 
 the latter, and which cannot, I think, be accounted for otherwife 
 than by the interpofition of God himfelf; nor that remarkable in- 
 terpofition folved on other principles, than Cain\ preiumihg to 
 omit the prefcribed «-.7V?;m, through his want oi' faith ^ Hth. xi 4. 
 '^ (otherwife 
 
 ♦ Gen* 11. y.Exod, xvi. 25, 26. Comp. Daiv/on on Cen. iv, v. p. 19, 
 •J- dn. viii. 10. 12. xxxix. 27. EccIuiKxiu U* 
 
 of Revealed Religion, 53 
 
 method much more ancient than the obfervation 
 of the feven planet si.) as from the e^rlieft ob- 
 fervance of that Sabbath, in all nations of the 
 world II ; without any ground in nature for fuch 
 praftice, or the leaft hint, or probability of its 
 arifmg from any human invention (/). 
 
 And 
 
 (otherwife his portion of the fruits of the ground, might vvell appear 
 to be as juft and natural a tribute of devotion from one in his pro- 
 vince, as fome part of the flock was from his brother; as we have no 
 clear intimation of any other difference in the fincerity of their dif- 
 pofitions, whereon to ground the above dillinaion between thern :) 
 this, I fay, feems a fufficient proof, that facrifice was of divine in- 
 ftitution ; and is but ill refolved by Spencer, L. iii. c. 4. f. 2. Comp. 
 Dai-v/on uDon Gen. iv, v. p. 21, &c. 
 
 The fame thing is inferred, with a good deal of probability, from 
 the mention of thofe coats offiins ^vhich the Lord God made for Adam 
 and his ^ife. Gen. iii. 21. which feem moil likely to have been of 
 thofe hearts that were offered in facrifice, and might perhaps be ia 
 fome racafure of the fame intendment with that facrifice; for the 
 difcovery of which, rather dlfiicult and difagreeable way of worihip, 
 one would think they Ibould Hand in need of God's particular di- 
 reaion, as nriuch, at Ipalt, as for that other, more eafy and obvious 
 one, of cloathing themfelves. 
 
 Concerning the ufe and propriety of this kind of cloathing at 
 that time, feeZ^A/Ws anfwer to Chrijlianity as old^ Sec. p. 503, ac. 
 
 J V. Pf^itfi iEgyptiac. L. iii- c. 9. 
 
 II Jofeph. contra Ap. L.ii. Exod. xvi. Philo de op. mund. Leiden de 
 jur. n.L.iii.c. x, xi, ^-c. Eufeh. evang. prxp. xiii. 12. Grfl^dever.. 
 L. i, c. 16. Allix'i refleaions, B.i. c. 7. Jenning's Lect. B. 111. c. 3. 
 
 p. 142. 
 
 (/) See RymerU Reprefent. of Rev. Rel. c. 2. or Ridley's Chrifiian 
 paffover. And the fame may be faid oi tithes, fenkin, VoL I. p. 102. 
 DurelU p. 1 78. Authors on each of thefe points may be feen in Water^ 
 land's firfl charge, p. 4i,S:c. On facrifices in particular, Carpxo'v. 
 Introd.p. 118. TiW^XBudde Hift. Keel. P. i. f. i. 30.** p. 115. The 
 diftinaion that we meet with afterv/ards [Gen. vii. 2, 8, &c.] between 
 clean and unclean beads, which manifellly relates to facrifice, [Vid. 
 Patrick, ib. ] fbews likewife the continuance of that kind of worlhip ; 
 and feems to prove< that it was not owing to any human cllablilhment, 
 any more than this direaion itfelf could be. And that the men of thefe, 
 as well as after ages, had both fufficient authority, and inllruaion to 
 ufe the flefh of the former fort of beads, for food, as well as clothe or 
 ihelter themfelves with the (kins, appears to me as plain, as that the 
 tendin<T and taking care of fuch was their chief bufinefs and occu- 
 pationr Nor can I comprehend what merit there could be ^t any 
 r tiine 
 
 D3 
 
54 Of the fever al Dfpenfatiom 
 
 And that in thofe days they had frequent m- 
 tercourfe with the Deity, and were made fenfible 
 of his pecuUar prefence in fome places, appears 
 farther, from his dilcourle with Cain, both before 
 
 and 
 
 time in their making ofe.i-^s umihe Lord their ?"/_?/■/*;';' J^J 
 coji them nothmg, ot that which they could "»' ^-^^^ ,' J.i'";,/',':,^ 
 come to diftinguifn [which theydid very early] ^1 Ja^T^Va 
 hZ- b-tw " ^zoo^chrkcphJ^, and others; unlefs they ^^^^^^f 
 them th'mfclve" "(Vid. ClJk. in lev. i. 2.iii 3- andiv.,;.) though 
 t irupoTti fch merical fuppof.tion, that the ufe of ammal food 
 wa ni Induded in the origfiral gr.nt of ^b^o "- d_on gwe>. 
 I • J o^ ^11 ^\\c rr(-irnre^ rf">me of which couia oe <n nu 
 o°hT^ftS trth mSa^^<^^^^^^^^ -'^-^' founded their attempt 
 
 i'oc t a ia permlfl-a flliire. alia prohibua. N^que enjm .n ammaUb 
 natura fua qulcquam immundum. Sed immundum id -.It ex k^e. 
 cu a efuTinterdicitur. Itaque lllud, Gen. i. 29. Vohs ent.n ahun-, 
 non folum ad P antas referimus, fed ctiam ud anunal.a de qm In.- 
 nracede.^i vedu aaumfucrat.' Kceh.'t. Hmc^. p ■ .. edit 4. Con>p. 
 priceUentMe.iu c antediluviano. Claytai\ Anfwer to 
 
 ^f ■« In he Wood-eadng controverfy ; or EHay on i..r,/»... 
 f r6?'lc or MrX-.y«A N'ew tranflat^on of the three fir.l chap. 
 feVs of Oc^h who ha/lhewn this fenfe to be very conhftcnt wtth 
 
 '^rhSLn obliged to differ here from the author of Ph.l^on to 
 W 2L • who in hi fifth part is fo far from allowmg any kind o 
 Kces'to be a divine inltltution. that he declares 'the general 
 ( ,-^n nf the thine itfelf to be in every view of it fo glaring an 
 "Kf',rditv Sa he ?s "mazed that it ihould ever enter into .he head 
 « abfurditv. tn" "^ ''; ,-^^ gome of the reafons offered to fup- 
 
 of any rational creature p. 10. f o^« °^ ^ ^ divine Being 
 
 f?lS: If it "u rr fu' fi^r icelkLy of nature a, to be 
 
 Tn n^r of thercachnfour good offices. He neither wants 
 
 ^or" 4 re euVb'nefit from theL' ib. Nor. Secondly, 'can we 
 
 . Funoofe hat the gods (hould ever be plealed wuh the mere wafte 
 
 . ^f'^their own produftions.' p. 13. Thirdly. It gues one a very de, 
 
 of their own pro ^ J ^^ ^^ confider them as entering into 
 
 ; of Revealed P.eligiGr. 5^5 
 
 and after the murder of his brother * ; as alfo 
 from Cains complahit of being hid from his 
 /ja'f ; and his going out from tliQf nfence of the 
 Lordt' Nor is it at all likely that y^^^;;;, who 
 
 feemed 
 
 * but fmall encouragement to hope, that God La tended to favour a 
 
 * guilty one.* 
 
 But 1 cannot apprehend that fuch an intercourfe as y/as kept up 
 between God and mankind, by the forementioned offerings, muft 
 ncceflarily be taken in either thefiiil, or third of thefe views ; fince 
 the like intercourfe is not always fo undcrflood, even among men ; 
 fome of whom are t(-o far exalted above others to receive any real 
 advantage from them, yet neverthelefs exped fome dutiful ackncw- 
 ledo-emcnt of the benefits which they confer on others, and require 
 frecjucnt tcilimonies of their love ; and why (hould we not imagine a 
 fincerely devout facrilicer to the Ptiry, able to interpret his devo- 
 tion ia the fame fenfe ? or if led to a more grofs interpretation of 
 it, why may we not even fuppofe the Deity condefcending in that 
 <:afe to fet him rights by fome fuch kind expollulation as the follow- 
 ing ? Will I eat the jit fi? of bulls ^ or drink the hlocd ofgcats ? If I ivere 
 hungry y I n.vould not tell thee ', for the ivorld is miney and the fulnefs there- 
 cf. Offer unto God thankfgiving, and pay thy vows unto the tnoji High» 
 And call upon mc in the day cf trouble ; / at'/// dcli-ver thee, and thou jhak 
 
 glorify me. 
 
 Nor does there feem to be any more merchandise in any fort of 
 facrincal ofrerings, than in thofe other of vows, prayers, praifes, and 
 thankfgivings, which ilill make up an eflcntial part of our religion ; 
 from their relation to which, the former always derived all their 
 value, (Vid. £;%, p. 19, &c.) and were perhaps only a ftrong, 
 lively manner of exprcfTmg them ; [Qui facrificat, id idem fignificaL 
 adlione et gellu, quod qui precatur ore fuo profitetur, Vitringa DifF. 
 Vol.1, p: 289. Comp. Patrick on i ^a7n. xiii. 12.] nor probably 
 more ilrong, and explicit, than might be nece/Tary for the times ; 
 nor likely to convey any more degrading ideas of the divine good- 
 nefs (at leail not more than were adaptevt to, and unavoidable in the 
 then low ftate of reafoning) than does the inward tribute of « broken 
 and a contrite hearty which is ftill requifite on fome occafions, as well 
 as the outward publick profeflion of our dependence on the Deity, 
 the rendering to him the calves cf our lips ; which when the under- 
 llandings cf men were ripe for ir, and they able to keep up a toler- 
 able 
 
 • Gen, iy. 6.9. f Ver. 14. 
 
 :|: Gen. iv. 16. Taylor fuppofes that there might be a {landing She^ 
 kinah, to which the men of thele times were to repair upon the fab- 
 bath, before which they prefented their facrifice, and performed 
 their devotion. Scheme of Script. Div. c. 14, 15. Comp. Fleming^ 
 Chriftology. B. ii. c. 7. Tenifon of Idolatry, c. 14. But Com^. 
 Daivfon on Gen. iv, v. p. 35, ^c. 
 
 ^ 4 
 
56 
 
 Of the fever al D {/pel fat ions 
 
 feemed to be fo well acquainted with the voice of 
 God in the garden \\ upon his fall, nioulcl^ never 
 have heard it there before, on other occalions. 
 
 In 
 
 able feiife of duty by thefe means, have of tlumfelvcs been, and 
 are accepted by the fame ^r,T««,.< being in the room ot the other; 
 (Ho/, xiv. 2. m. xiii. .5) though thefe be founded equally on lu- 
 man weaknefs, and at a like dillance from the excellency of the 
 
 divine nature, . , • /r • , .,.v.. 
 
 As to the Confumption of the fruit of the ground in offerings ; why 
 might not men conceive, that the fame CJod who had given them 
 all things richly to enjoy, might reafonably expea a r""-""' f " 
 were, of fome pa" of them, merely in token o gratitude tor the 
 reft : as an exercife of their faith in. a memorial ot their dependance 
 on, him for a continuance of them, and a pledge f ^^^^"'^ftwed 
 in applying. each to the good purpofes for which he nad bellowed 
 themrwittut the leaft fread 'of a%ronting him by an ■nipl.cat.on 
 that he either wanted fomcthing, qr reaped fomc kind of benefit by 
 
 *"Nor^need even fuch as have the moft imperfea notions of his power 
 and bounty, apprehend this to be any dangerous roifapphcation ot 
 thefe gifts,^on Tperfuaf.on that he had required it; though without 
 fome Tradition of that. H.caus himfelf [p .0 ] might P^l'^P; J};"' ^ 
 doubt of the propriety, and acccptablenefs of this kindot wo,lh,p 
 as he had the like fcruples about prayer, {Plat. 2. ^!ab.\ a^ .Ho 
 
 But if ever thefe, or any fuch offerings were in fafl r;quiied and 
 thefe or the like ends might be ferveri by them, (otherwife we lhoi,.d 
 indeed have no room to believe they ever were demanded), then will 
 this be far from a mcer ufihfi jajle, though ^he things oftercd be 
 dcftroved : nor indeed can 1 fee any material difference ba« em a 
 religious dedication of fuch things, and the del ruOion of them ; or 
 how they could be prefcnted to the gods at all, it they were tt.ll 
 kcDt for the ufe of their refpeaive owners. 
 
 The cafe. I apprehend, will not be much different as to xXvhf.of 
 an innocent creature; for if this creature be conf.dered as a man s pro- 
 perty. why may not the oblation of it be aff.gned by v.^y of com,-o- 
 fition nluia, or commutation for fuch faults as he is fenfible ot 
 and fcrve as a fignificant reprefentation, and acknowledgement ot 
 fich his fenfe ; and be accepted by the offended Govxrnor ot the 
 Sd nl u <.f a more condign- puniiliment ; by. virtue ot fuch 
 Iffig'lent doing away his guUt. and being a lutficient ground^ot 
 
 \\Ge>, iii.8.10. The curious reader m.iy be entertained w-lth fome 
 ir.genious conjeaures concerning a/«///i/?<«- 'Ms'"'f"''"^''"^g 
 communicated to JJam about this time, which Ur Peers grounds 
 on 7.*xxviii. 26, &c, and which he xerm,aruordofJo,r,e,hjJp.kea 
 h Go J 10 thefirft man, mt to be ma '■J.-ilh in iks hok of Geneju. \ id. 
 C'lit. Diff. ^i^- 16. p.45^' 
 
 of Revealed Religion. ^y 
 
 In thefe times therefore God was pleafed to 
 manifeft himfelf to the fenfes of men, and vifibly 
 conduifl them, by the angel of his prefence, in 
 
 all 
 
 encouragement for him to hope for a fuH refloration to the divine 
 favour ; without any further import r Though if this ihould have 
 yet a more diflant and extenfive view, pointing to a more noble 
 facrifice, and one of a much higher nature, (V. p .'^ whereof it 
 may have been fome Sacmwe/ital prcfignration ; ( V. p .) it anAvers 
 thefe ends for the prefent never the lefs ; and is more like all 
 other parts of the divine ceconomy, which fcrve for various pur- 
 pofes, immediate and remote. — But if we admit thefe ufes, they 
 will make it improper for this rite to have been inftituted before the 
 fall', which is another objedion, p. 22. And if they will warrant 
 the fuppofition of its being inftitutcd at all by God, it muft beinili- 
 tuted with a merciful defign \ and as fuch, every dutiful compliance 
 with ic would be conceived, in fome refpe(ft, to better the condition 
 of the worOiipper, as far as he could carry his thoughts on that con- 
 dition ; how dark foever his notions might be, as to the time and 
 manner of completing it. 
 
 Upon the whole, I cannot help concluding it to be more probable 
 in itfelf, and more analogous to the general courfe of things, that 
 this fo univcrfal a praftice of facrificing animals, however odd and 
 unaccountable it may feem to be in fome refpeds at prefent, how 
 much {^^^\'^x inferior to fome modern notions of the world, and its 
 all-perfcft Governor; — fhould owe its origin to fome divine ap- 
 pointment ; be propagated every where by primitive tradition ; and 
 afterwards [as in too many other cafes] by a pretended imitation, 
 and improvement, but a real mifreprefcntation and abufe, receive 
 fuch gradual alteration, from the authors of all fuperftition and vice, 
 as at length to arrive at that degree of enormity, which this inge- 
 nious writer has fo well defcribed. And I fubmit it to his candor, 
 whether the fuppofition of its coming from one who might have far- 
 ther views than could appear at firft fight, or be at once accomplifh- 
 ed ; be not as likely to remove his difHcuities, as attributing this 
 rite wholly tc the invention of men, at a time when it is agreed, that 
 they were capable of inventing very little; and who, if they could 
 fee fo far before them as to rtrike out fuch a form of worihip, muft 
 (we may think) have likev^ife been apprifed of fome of the fame 
 difficulties, which would always attend it. And lallly, whencefo- 
 ever it did come, whether fuch a pcrfualicn as this gentleman en- 
 tertains, of its being fundamentally wrong, and in every light fo 
 glaring an abfurdity, be not equally hard to reconcile with the belief 
 of God's exprefs acceptance of the fame on fome occafions; his per- 
 million of it all along to his diilinguiihed favourites: and at laft 
 formally enjoining, and eftablifhing it with the minuteft circum- 
 ftances ; and this, without any fuch intimation as is given in other 
 cafes, of its being all merely a compliance with fome of their own 
 culloms, or their prejudices. 
 
r 8 Of the fever al Difpenfations 
 
 all the chief concernments of religion. And this 
 infant ftatc of the world muft ftand in need of 
 hisefpecial guidance, and proteaion. They were 
 not yet able (with Mofes*) to look up to hini 
 ^ho is inrillbk, and perform a purely rational, and 
 fpiritual worlhip. They could have no very per- 
 fea notions of his nature and providence > nor 
 had they much leifure for fpeculation, and re- 
 finement in thefe fubjeas. They were all tillers 
 of the ground, or keepers of cattle ; employed 
 fufficiently in cultivating and repleninung this 
 new world , and through the curfe brought on 
 it by their forefather, forced with him to cat 
 their bread in the fweat of their broiv. W e may 
 fuppofe the generality of them, to have been no 
 better than Anthrofomorphites f, in their concep- 
 tions of the Divine Being ; as many were found 
 to be long after them, in much more knowing 
 timest; and as perhaps a great part of the world 
 yet are, by giving way to their imagination, not- 
 withftanding the cleareft revelations, and plainelt 
 arguments to the contraiy. Frequent apparitions 
 then might be neceffary, to keep up a tolerable 
 fenfe of religion among men, and ^ecure^obe- 
 
 ■ X The reafon of this is given at large by the author of Glory of 
 Chrift at God-man, Difc. I. ied. I. 
 
 t . Laaantius is to prove that God has ['-'^"jf^^-^Z^l^^ 
 
 (f Revealed Religion . 59 
 
 dience to the divine inftitutions * s and that the 
 Almighty did not exhibit fuch fo frequently as was 
 either neceffary, or fit to anfvver this end, cannot 
 be concluded from the filence of thofe very ftiort 
 accounts we have in facred hiftory, as v\ as ob- 
 ferved before. 
 
 Befides, Adam himfelf continued nine hundred 
 and thirty years, an eye-witnefs of the power and 
 providence of God ; and could not but refiecl on 
 thofe remarkable inftances of both, exerted at 
 the beginning of his own life -f- 5 and muft have 
 acquainted the reft of mankind with all thofe 
 truths relating to the Deity, that were implied 
 in the creation of man, and his firft fituation in 
 the world % ; as well as his prefent ftate of 
 punifliment, and profpeft of a future redemp- 
 tion \ which were exhibited together, and doubt- 
 lefs explained to him, upon his fall. He was 
 all that while, a living monument both of the 
 juftice, and mercy of God ^ of his extreme ha- 
 tred, and abhorrence of fin; as well as his great 
 
 love, 
 
 iruv (P'jy.v, lu)<i <m^oK07ry); yiVQ^z>r.<; iiq cvvzC-hv, x.xi Tea; XoiTTcci d^slxq, tcsi 
 ^alw/AcViv Tu; Ta $£« ^aXr.fjt.icri. Orig. cent. Celf. p. 2l6. Ed. Cant. 
 
 t See Allix's Reflcaions, B. I, c. 8, &c. 
 
 X How he was able always to convince the world that he was ths 
 firil man, fron; a peculiarity in the formation of his body, bee Cum- 
 berland De leg. patr. p. 409, 410. Adamiu^ cjufque uxor E-va fe- 
 cundumnaturam non potaerunt habere umbilicos in medio v«itrum 
 fuorum, uti habent omnes homines qui nafcuntur e mulieribus 
 propter vafa ur.bilicalia qua? umbilico infcruntur, et e Placenta 
 uterina nutrimentum afferunt infantibus, in utero matrum luarum 
 generatis, indeque prodeuntibus. Nee credibile ell Deum creavilTe 
 m protoplaftis umbilicos qui iis efTent prorfus inutiles, et eos redderet 
 obnoxios periculofo morbo qui omphalocele dicitur a medicis. ib. 
 
 i 
 
 u 
 
6o Of the feveral Difpenfations 
 
 love, and long-fufFerlng towards the finner. He 
 was very fenfible how fm entered into the world, 
 and could not but apprife his children of its au 
 thor ; and at the fame time inform them, ot the 
 unity of Gol and his dominion oyer the evtl 
 one ; and affare them of his being the fupreme 
 governor, and judge of all. For fo ".uch I 
 fhink might eafily be gathered from that trani- 
 fat in p^aradife, in what fenfe foever we und^r- 
 ftand it; not to mention that the garden of £^.;;. 
 the great fcene of this tranfgreffion might per- 
 haps ftill be vifible *. This would produce a 
 tolerable idea of the Divine Being and affoid fuf- 
 ficient motives to obey him. And accordingly we 
 find the effeas of it, in the righteous family of 5.^A, 
 who began to call upon the name of the Lord t > 
 or, as that text is better rendered in the margin 
 to call fhemfehes iy the name of the Lord^. They 
 foon diilinguifhed themfelves from the i>oftmty 
 of Cain; and for their extraordinary P^ety. were 
 entitled the people, or Sons of God. Of them 
 fometime after, fprang a perfon fo very eminent 
 for goodnefs and devotion, as to be exemp ed 
 from'^^...'s fentence, and the --"rJ«jf^^^^ 
 fons : who after he had walked with God thr e 
 hundred years, or held converfe with Angels !| ; 
 and propifed to his brethren, and forewame^ 
 
 * JllU, Reflea. p. 6z. fuppofcs h to confmoe till the deluge. 
 It C/mV. in Gin. v. 22. Comp. Datv/on, ib. p. 55- 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 6 1 
 
 them of the approaching judgment *, was franf- 
 lated that he puld not fee death f . This very re- 
 markable event, muft have made the world about 
 him, fenfible of the good providence of God, in- 
 fpeaing and rewarding his faithful fervants ; and 
 one would think, it Ihould have induced them to 
 look up to a better ftate than the prefent ; where 
 righteous Enoch was already entered, and whither 
 all fuch might expea in due time to arrive. To 
 Adam himfelf, if he was then alive (as the Sama- 
 ritan account makes him to be above forty years 
 after) it muft have been a lively and affeaing 
 inftance of what he might have enjoyed, had he 
 kept his innocence ; as well as an earneft of the 
 promifed viaory over the evil one, who robbed 
 him of it ; and a ftrong ground of confidence that 
 he, and the reft of his pofterity, ihould not be 
 left entirely in their prefent ftate ; but fome time 
 or other, be reftorcd to the favour of their Maker, 
 and behold his prefence in blifs and immortality %. 
 
 At 
 
 • fvJe 14. He foretells likewife tlie particular manner in which 
 that judgment was to be infliaed. and by way of fign or confirma- 
 tion fa frequent method on fuch occal.on.. Comj). IJ. vm, &c.] im- 
 pofes on his fon the name of Methu/M., importing that when the 
 Eerfon fo called was d^ad, there fhould come f [T-''''''''"' £[{''7: 
 And fo exaaly did that event correfpord with his name, that m the 
 very year he died, the earth was overwhelmed by the delugo. 0^e„, 
 B. L. S. 6. Bochart Phal. L. z. C, 13. 
 
 t Hd. xi. s. comp. Eccf^ xliv. ,4- and Jn.aU "P°» ^Z''^';!; 'y; 
 ,0 ' There is no doubt but his contemporaries had fome \iiible 
 or fenfible dcmonftration of this fad. And as the fate ^Ifel.^ 
 an argument to their reafon. fo the tranflation ol £W. was a proof- 
 to their fenfes (as it were) of another >« e/^ ///^.' i'''^" ^"«- ■L'''^. 
 on Job, p. 274. 
 
 t Sec Buin Difcourfes, Vol. I. p. 343„Vol. 11. p. 58;. &=• Dr. 
 JVorth.ngm argues farther, ' that this tranaation of £«.a. was more- 
 
62 Of the Several Difpenfatms 
 
 foretelling that that part °f '^e ^* ,^„,^ -,„ ^ 
 lated to the barrenttefs of the ea.m 
 
 came ruu . . when thofe ^/^w^^ ^ w^^k- 
 
 TlTrfJ fined the earth with tyranny, m- 
 ednefsll, had mieoi ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 j„ftice. 'f^fZi^^' 5. -* >^- 
 men were grown enni_ ^^^^ 
 
 doned and evenj --|;-^-- fphit had 
 
 ,„/v r.7/ ««^"^W/v_ :„;rtl em was at length 
 been hitherto 7?nw^5 with them, w ^^ 
 
 obliged, even in --y^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 their pofteruy. to cut tl^-n off at ^. ^^^^ 
 
 up another prophet tt> ^o give ^^^^_ 
 
 , • J ,v^t if thev overcame the depravity 
 over an intimation to mf '''"*' 'J^^^i'd be delivered from the ill con- 
 Tf their nature as he d.d. thej <h^"^d l^^ ^^j^,, ^,3 jeath, temporal 
 fequences of it as he was ^'^^.^d. and this ingenious author iup- 
 jir'himt SX': of '::ar lers being able to do the very fame. 
 
 '':^;' :CsecSW.... re and intent., S..C. and 0...> 
 
 j.f;::4-MKo;uKw^n4--orusofit. 
 
 Jill, (^''''•iM:\°v n iranTpXioc.n.4.) I'-Yt: 
 
 Tof the eight Pf--"l'^drA;,>on tie C"^*^. ^-^ "• P' " 5' 
 very natural or pertinent. Add r. >J 
 adtdit. C««;W«WdeLe2.Palt.p.4'9 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 6 3 
 
 warning of their fate ; and allowed them a hun- 
 dred and twenty years for repentance *• 
 
 Thus did God make ample provifion for the 
 inftruaion, and improvement of the world, for 
 the firft fixteen hundred years -, namely, by fre- 
 quent appearances, as we have feen j by thcfpini 
 of prophecy, which is by fome fuppofed to hav-e 
 been hereditary in the heads of famdies m thofe 
 times t ; and by uninterrupted tradition -, there 
 being but two generations from Main to Noah j 
 fo that we cannot well imagine that the know- 
 ied<-e and true worlliip of God, during that time, 
 could be entirely loft in any part of the world $. , 
 
 But we are to remember, that the world was 
 ftill but in its ftate of childhood; which it moft 
 aptly refembled, in thofe extraordinary aids, and 
 occalional fupports afforded it ; in the repeated 
 
 in- 
 
 • G« iv V This difpenfation [of the Deluge] as all the reft, 
 had relatione the morals of mankind ; and the evident defign of it 
 was to lirn the quantity of vice and prophanencis. and to preferve 
 and advance religion and%'irtue in the earth ; the great end for which 
 the earth""nd m^an in it >verc created. This end it was we" adapted 
 to obtain in the then prefent ftate of things, and in all futuie gene- 
 ratLnT In the prefent ftate of things it prevented a total corrup- 
 HonFor"f the whole tainted partliad not been cut off. a fingle 
 flmily wou d foon have been drawn in. or deftroyed : and then the 
 SeTob muft have been ruined, and the fchemes ^>>f P^P"^ 
 Tf rnf from the beeinnine of the world had been deleated But 
 bv r^fmdnra feled ffmily for the continuation of the l>u">^" ^Pf ■"' 
 the fvftemlf the divine counfels was preferved entire, and the moft 
 nroner method was devifed for the eftablilhment of rchg.on and vir- 
 fue^u the new world; as the family oi Noah enjoyed much greater 
 advlntSL for tTiis end than the fan ily ^^ ^f"^l'^^^,f;^Z^, 
 things, iayhr. Scheme of Script. Divm. c. l8. Com. 0-«^» slntenc 
 and Propriety of Script. Miracles, fed. 2. 
 
 f Jurieu Crit. Hift. Vol. I. p. 34- 
 
 t That Tradition was the chief way of conveying religion in thofe 
 X lhat//«^.:'<'»> / of the Chriftian Revelation, 
 
 early ages, icc Uiand i Ad\ an. age. cwt. ui w^ >- 
 
 Vol. 1. c. 1. 
 
64 Of the fever al Dfpenfations 
 
 inftances of that paternal care, and tendernefs, 
 with which the Creator watched over it : and I 
 have been the more particular in examining 
 whence it might derive its notices of God and 
 rehgion, and how far thefe could probably ex- 
 tend y in order to obviate fome miftakes, which 
 are commonly made in the hiftory of thofe times, 
 by fetting out wrong ; and fuppofing the firll 
 man to have been once fuperior to all his pofte- 
 rity *, both in natural abilities, and actual know- 
 ledge, becaufe more innocent than they ; and 
 imagining that the primitive religion was more 
 perfeft, becaufe it was more naked, plain, and 
 fimple than that in after times : by which means, 
 we are forced to make the ft ate of the world often 
 go backwards, rife and fall again ; and abound 
 with great breaks and inequalities ; inftead of 
 obferving that regular, even progrefs, which will 
 appear in all parts of the divine oeconomy. 
 
 To proceed. After the deluge^ God is pleafcd 
 to converfe again, and make another more clear 
 and extenfive covenant with mankind in the perfon 
 of Noah'y w^ho was a new inftance of his power, 
 his juftice, and his goodnefs; and whofe family 
 had been fufficiently convinced of his fupreme 
 dominion over the earth and heaven; of his utter 
 abhorrence of fm ; and liis determination not to 
 let it go unpuniflied. Nor could they, or their 
 
 chil- 
 
 • Vid. Gen. Dirt. art. j^damy p. "228, &:c. or Soutos very extra- 
 ordinary fermou on that fubje^. Comp. Taylor on Orig. Sin, p. 170, 
 &c. 2d Edit, and Script. Scheme of Divin, c. 10. Adanty when 
 created, may be confidered as a child, without knowledge, learning, 
 and experience, ib. p* 33* 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 65 
 
 children, for fome time, want any other argu- 
 ment to enforce obedience, fear, and worfhip *. 
 The knowledge of mankind therefore after the 
 flood, muft for a confiderable time be better than 
 ever it was before; might fafely be propagated 
 by tradition ; and did not ftand in need of any 
 farther revelation. 
 
 But when by degrees many of them f had 
 corrupted this tradition in the moft eflential parts, 
 efpecially with relation to the object of their 
 worfliip I3 and inftead of one fupreme God, had 
 fet up feveral orders of inferior ones ; and wor- 
 fiiipped all the hoft of heaven; (as they began to 
 do in the time of Peleg, the fifth, according to the 
 Hebrew computation, from Noah) and at the fame 
 
 time 
 
 ♦ See Mx, B. 1. c. 13. The obfervations and reflexions thev 
 mit^ht make on this extrordinary tranfaaion are well imagined by 
 Wfnder, Hift. of Know. c. 5. fed. 2, 3, +. and Taylor, ib. c. 18. 
 
 t Vid. n'inder't Hift. of Kn. p. 1 ic, &C. Patrick in Gen, xi. 2. 
 
 X Lord BoUngbroke, in his 2d & 3d EfTays, has taken great pains 
 to prove, that fuch corruptions in religion could never be introduced 
 fo faft : and Eff. 2. p. 20. * fuppofes itimpofiible for any nian in his 
 
 • fenfes to believe, that a tradition derived from Gcd himfcU through 
 
 • fo few generations, was loll among the greateft part of manldnd, 
 
 • or that Polytheifm and Idolatry were eftablifiied on the ruins ot it 
 « in the days of 5^;Ar^, before x\iokoi Abraham, and fo foon after the 
 « deluge.' To which a fufficient anfwer may be had within two pages 
 of tiie fame extraordinary author. * The vulgar embrace them [Po- 
 
 • lythcifm and Idohtry] eafily, even after the true dodrine of a 
 « Divine Unity has been taught and received; as we may lea^^ 
 « from the example of the jr/;W;/rr; and fuperftltions grow apace 
 « and fpread wide, even in thofe countries where Chriilianity has 
 ' been eftablilhed, and is daily taught; as we may learn from the 
 
 • examples of the Roman ciiurches, to fay nothing of the reformed, 
 « who are leA liable to the objeaion.' ib p. 22. Vol. »V. Comp. 
 p. 224, &c. where he contradids this again, difaliows both the fadf 
 and application of the m, but doe^ net d^'iv the trvth of the formerio much 
 as the latter, ami all in a breath. But if any one wants to fee more 
 of his LordOiip's contradidions, a pretty complere lift of them mgy 
 be found ready drawn out, in the Jn.ily/is of his philoloplucal wo^ks, 
 primed A. i-). 175 >• 
 
 E 
 
66 Of the federal Difpenfations 
 
 time were uniting under one head, and forming 
 an iiniverfal empire 'y and crefting a monument or 
 mark*, to preferve and perpetuate this their 
 union f : in order to prevent their being all cor- 
 rupted at once, God faw it neceflary to come dcwnXy 
 and difperfe them into feveral diftinft colonies ||, by 
 dividing them into fo many languages, (or caufing 
 that difcord^ among them, a natural confequence 
 of the former, ) which made their future intercourfe 
 imprafticable; and thereby rendered it impoffible 
 for any one fpecies of idolatry to be univerfally 
 eftablifhed ; nay, gave a confiderable check to the 
 progrefs of falfe worfhip in general; which had 
 moft probably been introduced by the rulers * * 
 of thofe times ; and for which reafon, their peo- 
 ple then might be driven from them, to hinder 
 
 its 
 
 » That this is the meaning of the word Qt^. Gen. xi. 4. which 
 our tranflators have improperly rendered ;7a//;f here, fee cl^uet. In- 
 trod. p. 2. *. De L'Origine des Loix, &c. ^ ' 
 
 + See Worthington, B. Le^. J 8. 
 
 X Gen, xi 5, 7 See Le Clerc upon the place, with Winder, Hifl. 
 of kn. p. 118. or T^r^hr, Scheme of Script. Div. c. 2 1 . Some un. 
 derilandit literally of a local defcentof the SonofGod, attended by 
 XhQ Divme SheJjinah. Tenifcn, of Idolatry, c. 14. P^ 4 ^ 
 
 II The date of this great event is rixed with fome probability to 
 anno 240. poll Diluv. See Ro^vland\ Mona Antiq. Reftor. 281, &c 
 1 i\ ^'^^^^^^r^ ^v^'^s not only a general diiperfion of the fons of 
 ^ouh about this time, but alfo a particular dt^oifion of the earth 
 •amongft them, fee Bryant^ Obferv. on parts of ancient Hill. p. 260, 
 Ac. i>Pme of the benefits of this Difperfion are defcribed by 
 Dr. Uweny B. L. § vii. ' 
 
 ?// ^Y' 9- Le Chrc, ibid. & Prolegom. in Com. DifT. !.$?.& 
 
 ftt ""''?; ^L^^j ^r: '' '^- ^'^^ ^'^'^i^g^^ Obf. Sac. L. I. c. 9. 
 I 7 ^^V J?^^«^'^>^' ^«^- J- R. iii. p. 146. Hutchin/on on the Con- 
 tufion of 1 ongues. Another account of this Covfufion, making it 
 rather an oblivion of the old language, than any infufion of new 
 ones, is g;iven \iy Ro^^hiud, ib. 
 
 ** See%S/.«r/f>r^, VoI.I r V. p. 353, &c. The fame author gives 
 H probable reafon for this, Vol. 11. B. ix. p. 457, &c. Comp. rW.r's 
 Scheme of script, Div. c. 20. i' ^ 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 67 
 
 its being originally impofed, as God's own peo- 
 ple were afterwal-ds difperfed every where to 
 
 *"" After the difperfion. particular revelations were 
 in all probability vouchfafed, wherever men were 
 capable of improving by them, and difpofed to 
 regard them. We find Feleg had his name pro- 
 phetically given from that difiperfm, whjda wa^ ^o 
 happen n his days*; and not only his fartier 
 S, but all the heads of families mentioned m 
 The leventh of Genefn, from M Xo Jh-aha. 
 are with fome reafon fuppofed to have h^d th« 
 fpirit of prophecy, on many occafions However, 
 Nab was undoubtedly both prieft and prophet ; 
 and living till Al^raham was near fixty years old 
 Light wdl be able to keep up a tolerable fenfe of 
 
 true religion m the ^^^^^ ' ^ ^^^"[.^.^^3 fo„ ghem 
 very thinly inhabitedf. His reiioioub ^^^^^ 
 
 on the Wifdom of Province m he a^^^ ^;,. , 
 
 great corruption ^^^^ ^egan , °JJ ^ ^ ,^^,,ence it feems to 
 
 ihe world where it chiefly prevailed. ^^^^^_ 
 
 t Gen. xiii. 9- Vid- ?«" '"^ P- „"„t ^nVof the deluge, con- 
 p. ,85—6. The ari^^klf, » "''^'" f^-.r^yed the memory of it, 
 Finued feveral ages ^f^^f^^'ZCLoS^J!!^^^^ Reflca. p. 68 
 • even among Pagans ; l^l'^'J'^/'^^^ct^'i^ Orat. de Perf. Char ) 
 
 on Navigation and Commerce, p. .8. 
 
 £ 2 
 
 t 
 
68 Of the /(Tjeral T>iJpcnfatiom 
 
 likewife was living fo long as "Jacob"^ time, and 
 could not but be a great means of continuing tlie 
 faith and worfhip of the true God among his 
 defcendants^ . 
 
 But notwithftanding a few righteous men, 
 and fome remains of true religion ; idolatry, 
 with its perpetual attendants vice and fuper- 
 ftitionf , had in a little time fo far prevailed 
 among the fons of Noahy as to make it highly ex- 
 pedient for God, as well to fhorten the lives of 
 Men J, as to withdraw his prefence from the ge- 
 nerality, who had made themfelves unfit for fuch 
 communication : and to fmgle out fome particu- 
 lar people, to bear his name, and be his more 
 immediate fervants ; and thereby preferve his 
 w^orlhip pure, in fome part of the world, a- 
 midft the various corruptions that were going to 
 overfpread it. 
 
 With this view Abraham is called ; who was 
 driven out of an idolatrous nation, in all proba- 
 bility, for oppofmg and refufmg to comply with 
 its idolatry II; and after many remarkable trials 
 
 of 
 
 * Concerning the notices of religion in the world about this time, 
 fee Allix, B. i. c. 14. Winder^ c. 9. Comp. Meier ^ Difp. Theol. de 
 Veftig. Rel. Patriarch, inter Gentes. Brem^e^ ^7S7' 
 
 t The attendants and eiFeas of idolatry are well defcribed by the 
 author of Wi/domy c. xiv. 23 — 29. So that there reigned in all men^ 
 'without exception^ blood, man/laughter, theft, and dijpmulation, corruption^ 
 unfaithfulnefs, tumults, perjury. 25. Difquieting of good men^ forgetfuU 
 nefs of good turns, defiling of fouls, changing of kind, diforder in marria- 
 ges, adultery, and Jhamelefs uncleannefs, 26. Add c. xii. 4, C, 6. V^id. 
 Arnaldm loc. 
 
 I Concerning this great change in the divine ceconomy, fee 
 Part in. ' 
 
 . II Maim, M. Nev. Buxtorf :p. 421. See Chandler'^ Vind. O. Teft. 
 P/ 11. p. 474- Judithx. 8. Shuckford, Vol. I. B. v. p. 269. It is a 
 
 4 tradition 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 6 9 
 
 of his faith and conftancy, admitted to a particu- 
 lar intimacy, znAfriendfiip with his Maker. God 
 enters into covenant with him, inftitutes circwnci- 
 fion, as t\itfgn 2ind feal of this covenant*, engages 
 to be his prefent guide, proteftor and defender ; 
 and to beftow, not only all temporal benefits on 
 him, and on his feedf; but to make fonrie of them 
 the means of conveying a bleffing of a higher kind 
 to all the nations of the earth ; who fhould in an 
 extraordinary manner be blejed through htrnX- 
 Abraham, no doubt, was fixed upon for his fin- 
 gular piety, and trufl in God under various tri- 
 als ; and entitled to thefe high privileges by his 
 extraordinary virtues ; for whofe fake (or rather 
 for the fake of encouraging and rewarding of 
 which virtues) the fame privileges were continu- 
 ed 
 
 tradition among both Jewos and Mahometans, that ^^r^Ws father 
 Terah was a maker and vender of Images, from whom fome derive the 
 n2imt oi reraphimi (i.e. Terah-aphim, images reprefenting Jifr«^ s 
 countenance) and tell many ftories of his difference ^it\i Abraham 
 for a time on that account. Some of thefe may be feen m Calmet, or 
 Bayle, Dift. Art. Terah, and Abraham. This is confident with the 
 account of Abraham's having once been himfeif an idolater, as fome 
 interpret, 5o/«. iv. 5. 
 
 • Rom, iv. 1 1 . Concerning the propriety and various ufes of this 
 inftitution, fee Le Clerc. on Gen. xvii. lo, 1 1, 12. 
 
 + That the promiie of poffcfrmg all the land from Egypt to Euphra- 
 tes iGen. xii. 7. xiii. 14, 1 5. xv. 18, &c.) was made to Abraham's feed 
 in general, though the efpecial covenant was reftrained to a /.^r/ ot 
 them, fee Remarks on part of the 3d Vol. of the Moral Phtlofopher^ 
 p. 89. 90. That the full execution of the former promife depended 
 on their obedience, vid. DurelL App. p. 153. 
 
 X Gen. xVi. 3. xxii. 18. xxvi. 4. xxviii. 14. ^r;iv^','^v^''^: 
 
 iii. 8. 17. That the efpecial covenant, limiting the Meffiah s defcent 
 to one branch of Abraham's pofterity, and that peculiar difpenfation 
 which attended it, were not inconfiftent with the original grant or 
 promife, which conftituted Abraham the Father of many ^atzons, 
 from whom all nations of the earth were to derive aBeJing, and to 
 whom therefore the Gofpel is fald to have been /r.^f^^^ before Chnfi 
 came into the world j fee 7'ay/or's Covenant ot Grace, p. 6. 13. &e. 
 
 E3 
 
I ! 
 
 I" ) 
 
 1 1 
 
 ,4'' 
 
 70 Of the fcveral Difpcnfations 
 
 ed to a part of his pofterity, though far lefs wor- 
 thy of them. But we cannot think that it was fo 
 much on his own account that he was thus di- 
 ftinguiflied; or that/^r his fake only*, faith, or 
 fmcerity, is faid to be imputed to him for righte- 
 cufnefs'y but rather for the common benefit of 
 mankind was all this done ; in order to make 
 him an inftrument, in the hand of Providence, 
 (and a fit one he was) to convey the fame faith, 
 and fear of God, to all the nations round him. 
 And accordingly we find him greatly favoured, 
 and diftinguiflied among the neighbouring prin- 
 ces 'y and Kings reproved for his fake ; who are 
 acquainted with his prophetic charafter, and de- 
 fire his interceffion with God-f , and obtained 
 afliftance through that interceffion. Hiftory tells 
 us of his converfing on the fubjeft of religion, 
 with the moft learned Egypt iansty and being very 
 highly efteemed by them ; from whom probably 
 they afterwards derived the rite of circumcifiony, 
 
 among 
 
 • Rom. iv. 24. 
 
 f Gen. xii. 17. and xx. 7. 
 
 X Jofephus L. i. c. 9. contr. Apion. paflim. Damafan. in Eufch. Prxp. 
 Evang. L. ix. c. 16. There is at this day, a feledt number of fami- 
 lies in Egypt, who call thcmfelves defcendants from Abraham, and 
 are in high erteem there, and give themfelves up intirely to the lludy 
 of Mufic, Medicine, and Aftronomy, and never intermix with any 
 other Egyptians, or marry out of their own families. Noveau Voyage 
 de Grece, d.^ Egypt, &C. Hague, 1 7 24. p. ic6, &c. 
 
 II Shuckford, B. V p. 322, &c. and B. vii. p. 132, &c. Comp. Spencer 
 de Leg. i. 4. & Cleric in Gen. xvii. 10. 
 
 Others derive it from Jcfeph. Univerf. Hift. Vol. I. p. 527. note r. 
 and p. 453. note u. Add Jenkin, Vol. I. p. 97. Grot. Ep. 327. 
 
 Others fuppofe it introduced by IJh?nael, (Rev. Exam. Vol. II. 
 p. 190,) or his pofterity the Shepherds, or Arabians, as is made very 
 
 Vind. p^ 2. §.21, 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 7 ^ 
 
 among other religious inftitutes. We are inform- • 
 ed,that his name was had in the greateft venera- 
 tion all over the Eaft*: that the Magians, Sabi- 
 ans, Perfans, and Ltdians all gloried in him, as 
 the great reformer of their rcligionf . And as he 
 was let into the various counfels of the Almighty, 
 and taught to reafon, and refleft upon them; as 
 he was fully apprifed of God^s juft judgment in 
 the miraculous overthrow of the four wicked 
 cities J, with the particular circumftances of it|| j 
 as well as his moft gracious intent of providing 
 a Redeemer for all mankind, and rejoiced to fee his 
 clay%, andfaw it-, ^tis very probable, that he and 
 
 his 
 
 * Vid. Eu/eb. Praep. Evang. L. ix. c. i6, 17, &c, 
 t Prideaux, Parti. B. iv. p. 225. Comp. Hyde De Rel. Vet. Per/. 
 c. 2. and 3. and Univerf, Hift. paff. 'Tis remarkable that the Lace- 
 demonians retained the memory of him for above 1600 years, and 
 under their king Areus claimed kindred with the '^en^s, as being 
 of theftock o{ Abraham. 1 M^rc^^.xii. 21, &c. 'Joftph. Ant.L.xu.5. 
 (fee Waterland'% Poftfcript to Script. Vind. P^ 2. p. H^- ^''/^^j'^/ 
 Vol. I. p. 53. and 90. How this might come about, fee Stilhngfleet, 
 Orig.SrB.iii. c.^.oxShuckford, B.x.p.51.) nor is it unlikely that 
 from the Ahrahamans, or fons of Abraham, the Brachmansmxg^\. de- 
 fcend, and derive their name, hh'wt. Chron. p. 351. Tis likewifc 
 obferved, that the Perftans adhered fo ftridly to the religion of ^^r^- 
 ham, as to keep clear of the moft grofs idolatry, for a long time. 
 Vid. Cleric, in If, xxi. 9. & Ind. Philolog. Stanley, voc. Statua, 
 
 t Some authors call ihemftve, according to the common nanie, 
 Pentapolis {IVifdomx. 6. Jofph. B. J, v. 8.) including Zoar, which 
 had been condemned to deftruftion. but was fpared at the inter- 
 ceiTion of Lot. Of thefc, two are fometimes named by themielves, as 
 beine fuperior to the reft. Gen. xix. 24, 25. _ ^ 
 
 Some fuppofe that, befide the four principal cities in that valley 
 (Sodom, G'fm.rrah, Adma, Zeboim, or Bela Gen, xiv. 2 Deutxxix 23.) 
 there were nine other inferior ones deftroyed (called the daughters of 
 Sodom, EzeLx. 46, &c ) which agrees with the account of Strabo, 
 Geogr. L. ::vi. Comp. Cleric. App. Com. in Oen. ^ 
 
 II Gen. xviii. Some of the caufes, ends and ufes of this fevere dif- 
 penfation, and teftimonies of its reality, are fet forth in Oz^en s 
 
 ^'e'yl*. viii.56. ^yu>.X.a:rc.ro, gefticbat, longed cirnMy. Bp./fV- 
 hrm fuppoft-s, that the command of facrificnig Ijaac, was a mode 
 
I 
 
 72 Of the fever al Hfbcnfatiom 
 
 his family would propagate thefe doclrines, 
 together with their confequences, wherefoever 
 
 they went*. 
 
 But though the Deity was pleafed to manifeft 
 himfelf, in a more frequent and famiHar manner, 
 to Abraham > yet were not the reft of the world 
 quite overlooked. There were, no doubt, many 
 other fhining lights, and eminent profefTors of 
 pure religion, who, like Lot in the midft of 
 Sodom, were as eminently prefcrved, and fupport- 
 cd in it : we fee Laban^ and Bethtiel acknowledg- 
 ing the Lord'f', and the former of them, notwith- 
 ftanding the mixture of Idolatry in his houfe- 
 hold X favoured with a Vifion § : Nor was the 
 fpirit of prophecy, or divine revelation, wholly 
 
 con- 
 
 of information by adion, inftead of words, concerning the great 
 Sacrifice of C/(»r//?, given to Abraham at his own earnelt requefl. Div. 
 Leg. Vol. II. P'. ii which is well illuftrated by Mr. Gilhank, Script. 
 Hiit. of Abr. p. 1 1 3, &c. and might perhaps receive fome confirma- 
 tion, by obferving that this fcene moil probably was placed upon 
 the very fpot where Chrifi aftually fufFered: (See Crit Notes, Gene/, 
 xxii. I, 2. Comp. Pool, Synopf. ib. and Patrick on Gen. xxii. 9.) in 
 which fuch another coincidence might be obferved between the type 
 and perfon typified, in refpeft of his death, as Epifcopius remarks 
 concerning the place and circumllances of his birth, Ncmpe ita ego 
 mecum fentio; Id non cafu, fed, Deo ita procurante, evenifTe, ut vel 
 hac etiam ratione Deus teftatum faceret filiumhunc, Davidis filium 
 efle, paremque cum eo fortunam fortitum atque cxpertum ti^^, 
 Knimvero pallor fucrat David, qui vitam fuam in flabulo forte,/c;7^, 
 inquam, hoc ipfo in loco uhi Je/um Maria pcperit, egerat, et quando ad 
 rcgiam dignitatem v.ocabatur, gregem patris fui pafcebac, atque ita 
 veluti a ftabulo et pabulo ovium ad regium thronum vehebatur, uti 
 diferte ipfe fatetur, Pfal. Ixxviii. 70, 71, 72. In ftabulo igitur cum 
 nafcitur filius ejus, annon patrem fuum lefert ? Epifcop, InlL Theol. 
 L iii. c. 12. p. 175. 
 
 • Gen, xviii. 19. See Burnet's Boyle's Lea. pag. <J36. f J. * God 
 called Abraham out of his own country, and made him travel from 
 place to place, to make him thereby famous in the world, and to 
 jnvite men by that means to enquire af^er his profeflion, his hopes, 
 and his religion/ Allix, Refled. B.ii. c. 12. 
 
 + Gen, xxiv. 31, 50. % Gen, xxxi. 19, 30. § Gen. xxxi. 24. 
 
 cf Revealed Religion. 73 
 
 confined to Abraham, or to his family. In Canaan 
 we meet with Melchizedcck, king, and prieft of 
 the moft high God*: who is acquainted with 
 the bleffing promifed to Abraham, and confirms 
 it to him; and to whom the patriarch himfelf 
 pays homage. Abimelech king of Gerar receives 
 an admonition from the Lord, and readily pays a 
 due regard to itf; the fame fenfe of religion and 
 virtue defcends to his fonj; from whence we 
 learn, that this country was at that time far from 
 arriving at that great degree of corruption, which 
 it reached in a few generations after. In Arabia 
 we find fob, and his three friends, all of regal 
 dignity, as fomefay||, entering into the deepeft 
 points of divinity, and agreed about the unity, 
 omnipotence, and fpirituality of God; the Juftice 
 of his providence, and many other fundamentals 
 of Religion; as alfo mentioning a divine infpira- 
 tion or revelation, as no very uncommon thing§. 
 EUphaz had his vifions, and revelations ** as 
 well as fob, though in a lower degreeff; and the 
 latter expreffes his faith in much ftronger terms, 
 than are elfewhere to be met with near his time; 
 if according to the addition to the feventy, he 
 
 was 
 
 • Perhaps the Patriarch Shem himfelf. Vid. Cumberland, de Leg. 
 Patr. p. 424, &c. Bedford, Scrip. Chron. p. 3 ' 8^^/V/v>/, Mifc. loio 
 The fanie opinion is maintained by many other authors mentioned 
 lyCahet, Dia. Vol. II. p. M7' Com?. S ha rpe. Rife and Fall of 
 yeru/alem, p. 1, &c. and prolegom. m Hjde opufc. p. xxi. 
 
 f Gen. XX, 
 
 I V^^Txl" in'fin 'y.^, Tobit ii. i6. Vulg. Lat.-Job infultabant 
 Reles. Comp. Letter to the author of Div.Leg. 1765. p. 57- 
 
 $ Vid. Cleric, in Jcb vi. 10. xxiii. 12. xxix. 4. .xxxui. 15, 23. 
 ••Civ. 12, 15, 16. 
 
 II See Patrick, App, to par. on Jcb. p. 59* 
 
W' 
 
 la-'!. 
 
 74 Of the federal Difpenfattom 
 
 was the fifth from Abraham *, or according to 
 others, contemporary either with him, or Ifaacf. 
 Though in truth, it is not very eafy to fettle 
 either the date of that piece, or the import of fe- 
 veral expreflions in it. Some place it in the days 
 of David or So/omon'^y others bring it down as 
 low as the captivity : nor are they without their 
 reafons (m.) However, all feem to agree that, 
 
 whoever 
 
 * See CalfMsfy Dia.or CoJlard\ Obfervations, p. 13. or Heath, p; 
 24. or Findlay againll Voltaircy P^ 3. J. 5. 
 
 t '^urieuy Crit. Hift. Vol. I. p. 18. Shuckford, B. vii. p. 136, &c. 
 SeUen de Jur. Nat. &c. L. vii. c. 1 1. Goguet, Vol. 1. Differt. il. 
 X V. Vitringa in Jef, Prolog, p. 9. 
 
 {m) See fome of them in the Fi-ve Letters on Infpir. p. 99. and U 
 CUrcQVi Job'i, 6,8,11,22. — ii. 9.— vi. 10. - xi. 10, 22. — xxiii.12, 
 — XXV1.12.— xxxi.27. — xxxviii.v— xlii.7. Jd.Sentim. de Theolog 
 L.ix.p.i77,&c. etBiblioth. Choif. Tom. I. a. i. Add C/W^^/>;/ in 
 mdice ad C7(fr. Comment. Tom. IV. with Findlay, p. 433, 434. n. 
 
 The mixture of Chaldee in the compofition which he Cierc makes 
 out in many inftances, befide the in pro im, (fee Mr. Peters's Crit. 
 Diif. p. 133.) feems of fome moment towards determining it to be 
 more modern than is ufually imagined, and is, I apprehend, rather 
 too nightly paffed over both by the ingenious author of Cht. DiJ/l 
 and thofe other eminent writers he produces; though LeClerc, with 
 his ufual modefty, leaves the confequence from thence to the date of 
 the book wholly undecided ; nay, himfelf afligns a rcafon why the 
 latter is no neceflary confequence from the former : Jobus, nimirum, 
 ad Euphratem in Hufitide habitavit, ubi lingua Chaldaica, aut 
 Chaldaicje adjinis obtinebat. Id. in c. xv. 13. 
 
 As to the famous pafTage in c. xix. 25. on which he gives his 
 judgment with more freedom, I mult produce the concluiicn, though 
 fomewhat of the longell, in his own words. Jam ex infis totius hu- 
 jus loci ve/bis fatis Hquere poteil, Jobiim de rcfurredlione fua non 
 
 DofTi non putarunt. Scd id ipfum, cum ex multis aliis locis, in qui- 
 bus fatis aperte Jobus oilendit liatum animorum, poft mortem, tunc 
 ignotum fuiffe, turn ex totius libri argumento facile colligitur. 
 (^laeritur in eo, cur qui non funt detcriorcs aliis qui boni habentur 
 tt revera funt, interdum iuufitatis calaniitatibus premantur ; quod 
 quomodoconfentire queat cum juftitiadivina, ncc Jobus, neJamici 
 pofTunt comminiici; imo nee Deus ipfe, ubi Jobum pofleaadloqui- 
 tar, docet. Nimirum folutio problematis, et una confolatio, qua 
 Jobi animus pacari potera:, pcti dcbuit ex alterius vitic coenit'ione • 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 7 5 
 
 whoever was the author of it, it is built upon a 
 real charafter ; and that decorum kept up, as to 
 fuit the notions in it to the patriarchal times "^ : 
 and what religious notices might be gathered from 
 this dramatick hiftory. fuppofmg it known m 
 thofe times, may be fcen at large in a judicious 
 
 To proceed : In Chaldea we meet with Balaam, 
 a true prophet t ; yet one who, from his own per- 
 fonal merit, had no particular pretenfions to the 
 word of God ; fince he fo notoriouHy loved, and 
 followed the wages of unrighteoufnefs ; and at length 
 iuftly perifhed among the idolatrous Mtdtamtes^ \\ ; 
 ' ■' *^ having 
 
 «uam fi noviffent Jobi amici, vetuJlTent eum ufque adeo pert"fbarl 
 ?t rmentari effe enim dixiffent aliud tempus praemiorum virtutis. 
 etlamentan. f"^='" , , _oft hanc vitam mortalem ; et eo ma- 
 idqueexpeaan ab eo ^^°^'^'l°r^'^^^^^ tuliffet: 
 
 quibus prxmiis mala hu, us vitx Dcas abunde p ^^^ ^^ ^^ 
 ipfe hoc ad animum revocaffet, nee ^V^^^ ^ ^^^ ■ ;^elata 
 
 Sr SerrrrS^u 'jS, '^Si^:^ .ans ejus 
 erat, aixiiiei, luuiiuij**-!.*!^ j ^ . /- /-„„-_pj.,,- ulnnueeam imi- 
 
 fedfl;rDU")rito1 us u'n^Spie^. conveniintior erat, quam 
 c"at ?ro"codm & nippotami. aliaque id genus ; q-- "bu- qu w 
 
 ''- ^-XcCiTanlr: ^ST^l^^^'^ 
 erunt. Hxc qui ^^.^"T"" ,^„_„,„r refurreaionem & vitam ater- 
 effe cur. vel"" FJ fijiicu as conenjur rel ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ 
 
 r;£a"n?::rt'vtr;^|^f>s^^ 
 
 is rizht of God, which his friends did no . c. xlii. 7* ^. 
 • * See the Theological Repofttory, p. 70> ^^' 
 
 + -niv.W, Scheme of Script. Div. c. 24. 
 
 X See Patrick. App. to Par. on Job, p. Oo. 
 
 II }\umh. xxxi. 8» 
 
Pi 
 
 4' 
 
 l|v 
 
 76 Ofthefeveral Bifpenfatiom 
 
 having taught them to feduce and corrapt thofe, 
 whom he knew to be the chofen people of God +! 
 Confidcring, I fay, the charader of this perfon,' 
 he feems to have had no particular title to the 
 gift oi prophecy («) 5 and therefore we may fup. 
 
 pofe 
 
 : Kumb. xxiv. 9. and xxxi. 16. Mich, vi. 5. Rev. W. 14. 
 
 («) Whatever might have been his behaviour before, it was cer- 
 tainly very bad ,n the whole of this affair; during which, he had the 
 fulleft revelations, and yet was always either direaiy difobeyinc, or 
 endeavouring to defeat the intent of them; as may' be feen in Bp. 
 Butkr s Sermon on that fubjcd, and Shuckford\ Connexion B xn 
 p, 314, &c. "^ ' • 
 
 As to the particular /««;r«fr of thefe revelations, we may, I think 
 fuppofe them to have been all alike made in vifion, dream, or tranci 
 [as our tranflators have interpreted one hereafter mentioned, and 
 which fomecircumftances render very probable] thou^rh from the 
 narration It is equally difficult here, as in fome other parts of fcrip- 
 ture, to dilhnguifli between real faft in the moll literal fenfe, and 
 viflonary, fymbolical reprefcntations, fuch as occur in Gen, xv. c. 
 
 &c. iir///^/xxii. 19. jobx.6. ii, i,&c. xxxviii. y/:vi. 1.XX.2.?. 
 
 y.r,x,n.i~7. xviii.3,4. xix.1,2. xxv.15,17, xxvii.2,3. £;^^.iii. 
 1,2. IV 6,&c. V i;^4. xn 3,&c. Horu2,^. ni.x^z,\y.Pocock 
 m loc.] Zech.x 8. 111 ,. and perhaps Gen, ii. 21-24. ^nd xxxii. 2. 
 ''J* J I* V'''t''^' {^}^oxx^\^ Dr. Clarke gives another interpretation 
 of this laft paffage berm. xix. p. 126. Dubl. Ed.) and Smtth'^ Sel. 
 
 A<, ^' «• / ? -^^ ^^^ ^^y ^^^ ^^^^^ appearances to St. Sfet>be» 
 and St. Paul, J,7svuuj^^ 56. xxii. 6, &c. [fee £//ner, Comm. in 
 
 •7; '• P.' 3^-J ^^^^^ '^^ account of a liar being feen by the wife 
 men. Majf 11 9, ,0. [£,>,;., ib. p. 34, Scc] and perliaps the whole 
 ftory of ChnJI s temptation in the <wiUerne/s, as is made very probable 
 m farmer s judicious Enquiry into its nature and deft gn, printed h D 
 1761, Comp. Ma/on on Matt, iv. 1 1. and Jennin^'s Leftures, B I* 
 n^u'' P; l^^'. °^^'^'-^^^^» J»trod. to the N. Tell, c, v. §. p. 178. 
 1 hat otthe^,;^,/ meeting ^^/.,^,^ \n the way, feems to be thus ex- 
 plained by himlelf, Numb. xxiv. 3, 4. (when rightly rendered) where 
 he alludes to the very circumilance of his eyes being jhut for fome time, 
 £. xxij. 3». Nor IS it aquiteeafy fuppofition that inllead of betrav- 
 i.)g the lead token of furprife at hearing the afs fpeak, (though not 
 much to the purpole, as has been objeded by the inHdel) which 
 waUo natural to any perfon awake and in his perfeft fenfes, he Ihould 
 perhll in his fury, and make the following reply, more like one un- 
 der the diforder of a dream : / ^^ould there ^ere afford in my hand, 
 for no.zv<zvouldIhllthee. c. xxii. 29. Nor is the ^W»s bein^ thrice 
 prevented from flaying Balaam, merely by the afs's turning away 
 thui often, V. 33. lefs unaccountable, if we arc refolved to take the 
 whole ilory literally, Nor does it feem v^ry probable that he, who 
 
 v^as 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 77 
 
 pofe that in thofe days it was riOt fo uncommon 
 a favour, but might be conferred on many others 
 likewife, in other parts of the world *, whofe 
 hiftory is not delivered dov/n to us -f : And upon 
 the whole, it feems probable that, as ifi every na^ 
 tiouy thofe who feared God and worked righteoufnefy 
 were accepted of him J, fo he was pleafed alfo to 
 manifeft himfelf, wherever men were difpofed to 
 make a proper ufe of that manifeftation \ and in 
 fuch time, manner, and degree, as would beft 
 
 anfvver 
 
 was fald to be in the retinue of the princes o^Moab, Numb. xxii. 21. 
 fliould at any time be fo far feparated from them in the way, as to 
 give room for fuch a remarkable tranfaftion, without the know- 
 ledge of any of them, as by the account it appears to be. * Ita dico, 
 in negotio Bileami, totum illud quod in via ei contigilTe dicitur, & 
 quomodo afma loquuta fuerit, in vifione prophetica fadum effe, quia 
 in fine hillorize explicatur quod angelus Dei loquuvus f ucnt. ' Maimon, 
 Mor. Nevoch. P. ii. c. 42, To the fame purpofe R. Le<vi Ben. Cer- 
 fom; and Philo feems to be of the fame opinion, by his omiflion of 
 this circumilance, as is obferved by Shuck/ord, B. xii. p. 3 1 5. Add 
 Memoirs of Lit. Jpril 1710, p. 14. 2.nd Jortin's Differ tations, Dili'. 
 V. p. 189. Leibnitz, endeavours to prove the fame, in his hillory 
 of Balaam, Gen. Dift. Vol. VI. p. 678. Which, I think, is pretty 
 clear in his cafe, though fome of thofe others abovementioned may 
 perhaps belong to thatlpecies of revelation hy a^icn, which Bp.ir^ir- 
 burton explains at large, Div, Leg. B. iv. fed. 4. and B. vi. fe6l. 5, 
 Nor does the reference made to this part o{ Balaam's hillory by St. 
 Peter determine any thing with regard to the literal fenfe of the 
 paffage before us, or exclude the prophetick fcenery fuppofed, fmce 
 it is obferved to be merely a tranllation from an Hebrew writer of 
 uncertain authority, who puts words into the afs's mouth that are 
 not mentioned in the original account of Mj/es. See Bcnfon on 2 Pet^ 
 ii. 16. However, we may fafely conclude with Dr.Jortin, that 
 * fince Balaam relates it as a fad, and Mo/es recorded it as Balaam 
 gave it, and other prophets have defcribed their viiions like real 
 fafts, and the moral ufe and application is the fame either way; it 
 is no wonder that St. Peter, mentioning the ftory, did not meddle 
 with the dillinftion between real and vifionary tranfa^^ions, which 
 concerned not his purpofe in theleaft.' ib. p. 191. 
 
 • Secjudg, vii. 13, &c. and notes below. 
 
 t Vid. Cleric, Prolegom, DiiT. iii. 7, 2. de Script. Pent, p, 36. 
 
 X Ads X, 35. 
 
7 8 Of the fever al Difpenfaiions 
 
 anfwer the ends of his good providence, and moft 
 effectually promote the intei*cft of religion. 
 
 Not to infift upon the numberlefs traditions of 
 fupernatural appearances, and the common belief 
 of them, all over the world || ; which notion can 
 hardly be fuppofed to have arifen at firft without 
 foundation, though numberlefs impoftures (which 
 yet are ever imitations of fomething real, and 
 almoft a natural confequence of it *) have indeed 
 rendered all reports of that kind, for thefe many 
 ages, very fufpicious. 
 
 But to proceed. When for the reafons above- 
 metioned, and perhaps many others, it had 
 pleafed God to adopt Abraham^ and part of his 
 pofterity in a peculiar manner, and to eftablifh his 
 Covenant with them -f- ; we find all poffible care 
 and condefcenfion ufed, to train them up by de- 
 grees, in fuitable notions of their Creator ; a fre- 
 quent correfpondence held with them^ new pro- 
 mifes daily given ; to flrengthen and confirm their 
 faith, to fix and preferve their dependence on 
 the God of heaven. He reveals himfelf to Tfaac 
 and Rebecca \ and foretells the condition of their 
 
 two 
 
 II See Patrick on Numh, xxii. 9. Append, to Job, p. 60, ^c. Huet. , 
 Qusft. Alnetan. c. 2. n. i, 2. Sbuckford, B. i. p 47. 
 
 * See ^^«z«j*s judicious anfwer to Hume's KiTay on Miracles, p. 
 110, III. Good and evil angels under fome former difpenf tions of 
 religion might appear and adt in a fenfible manner: but under the 
 prelent difpenfation they may for wife reafons (particularly, becaufe 
 we are now fufficiently inftrudled in their nature and agency) be 
 wholly invifible ; nor may we be capable of diftinguiihing their fecret 
 internal impreffions from the fuggeftions of our own minds; or the 
 external, kind afliftances of good angels, or the malicious injuries of 
 evil angels, from the common courfc of providence. Taykr'% Scheme 
 of Script. Divin. c. 12. 
 
 ^ Rom. ix. 5. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 79 
 
 two fons X ; renews the promife made to Abra^ 
 ham * y blefles his fon Ifaac y miraculoufly in- 
 creafes his fubftance^ and foon makes him the 
 envy of the neighbouring princes-f. He converfes 
 in the fame manner with Jacob ; and repeats the 
 fame promife % ; gives him the right of primo- 
 geniture; engages to be with him, and keep him, 
 in all places whither he fliould go !| . This he 
 confirms by many extraordinary bleiTmgs; and 
 frequent appearances § ; vouchfafing to talk with 
 him face to face*^; to beftow all kinds of riches 
 on him ; and ftrike the terror of him into all the 
 cities round about f f . And yet we find all this 
 little enough to keep up, even in Jacobs a tolera- 
 ble fenfe of duty, and dependence on his God : 
 After the firft vifion he is furprifed, and hefitates ; 
 and feems to make a kind of ftipulation with his 
 Maker. If fays he, God will be with me^ and will 
 keep me in this way that I gOy and will give me bread 
 to eaty and raiment to put ony Jo that I come again to 
 viy father s hoiife in peace ; then f: all the Lord be my 
 God tt' that is, if he will preferve and profper me 
 in my undertakings, he Ihall be my God, rather 
 than any other : And it appears not to have been 
 till after many fuch revelations, bleffings, and de- 
 liverances, and his being alfo reminded of them || || ; 
 
 that 
 
 X Gen. xxi. 22, 23, From this circumflance o^ Rehecca^s going to 
 enquire 0/ the Lord, Lcland Mqys, that there was at that time in Ca- 
 naan a prophet or prophets diitind from Abraham and Ifaac, to whom 
 perfons might have recourfe to know the will of God. Advantage, 
 ^'C. of Revelation, Vol.1. Pt. i. c. 2. p. 78. u. 
 
 * Gen. xxvi. 24. f Gen. xii. 13, 14. | Gen. xxviii. 13, 14. 
 
 II Gen. xxviii. 15. \ Gen. xxxii. 1. xxxv. 1,9. ** Gm. xxxii. 29. 
 
 ft Gen. xxxv. 5 . H Gen, xxviii. 21,22. See If Cterc on the 
 
 place. I'll ch. xxxv. 1. 
 
So Of the fevcral DiJpe?2Jat:G}is 
 
 that he fet himfelf, in earneft, to reform the re- 
 ligion of his own family, by driving out all ftrange 
 gods *. T'hen Jacob fciid unto his houfiol4y dnd to 
 all that 'were 'with him^ Put away the Jlrarige gods 
 that are among you ^ and be clean -y and change your 
 garments^ and let us arife^ ajid go up to Bethel ; And 
 I will make there an altar unto Godj who anfwered 
 me in the day of my dijirefs^ a7id was with me in the 
 way which I went -f*. 
 
 Thus was God obliged to treat, even with the 
 Patriarchs themfelves, by way of pofitive Co'-ce-^ 
 
 7iant 
 
 • ch. XXXV. 2, 3. 
 
 f The idolatry here mentioned, may perhaps be thought chiefly 
 to relate to the Shechemite women in Jacobs houlhold, Ge7t.x\x\w. 29. 
 See Shuckford, B. vii. p. 164. In fupport of which opinion it may 
 be obferved, that the words Elohi hannekar, above rendered y?r^»^ 
 godst more properly fignify xhc gods of the ftr anger, Deos alienigenx. 
 Vulg. L. However, that Jacob himfelf had yet but very imperfecl: 
 notions of the Deity, particularly of his Omnfprefence^ is obferved by 
 LeClerc on Gen, xxviii. 16. and to the fame purpofe Cyriil, Mcx, L. 
 iv. p. 115. there cited. And that the fenfe of religion was not great 
 among his fons, appears from their behaviour to the Shechemiusy and 
 from fo many of them confpiring the deftruftion of the moft innocent 
 and amiable y^y^/^. 
 
 Having been informed, that the above account of Jacob*s Vow 
 has been by fome judged too degrading; in order to preferve the 
 ftrideft regard to every appearance of truth, rather than a particu- 
 lar attachment to any favourite fyllem, I Ihall here fet down the ob- 
 fervation made on it by an ingenious friend. * I am perfuadcd, 
 tranflators and critics have not done juftice to the good old Patriarch. 
 His vow confifts of two parts. I. A recapitulation of the promife 
 made to him in the preceding vifion [Gen. xxviii. 13, 14, 15. J ;^. 20, 
 21. II. The fubjed matter of the vow which he grounded upon 
 it, f. 22. The recapitulation of the promife runs thus. Seeing 
 [QK] * ^^^ ^vill be with me, [l] and will keep me in the way 
 wherein I go, [1] and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put 
 on, [1] and I Ihall return again to my father's houfe in peace (or in 
 profperous circumftances) [1] and feeing the Lord will be my God; 
 
 II. The 
 
 • This particle C*t^» if* is not here conditional, but caufal, quoniam, 
 <|uandoquidem ; as Gen. xxiii. 13. Numb. xxii. 20. Ju^^g xi. 9, Jer* 
 xxiii. 38. Ezsk, XXXV. 6, &c. SeeNc/diM, 
 
 tf 'R.evcaled Religion. 8 1 
 
 iiant^ and exprefs compaft ; to promife to be their 
 God, if they would be his people ; to give them 
 a portion of prefent temporal bleflings, as intro- 
 du6lory to, and an earneft of future ^, fpiritual 
 ones ; and engage them in his fervice by imme- 
 diate rewards j till they could be led on to higher 
 views; and were prepared, by the bringing in of 
 a better hope, to draw nigh unto him. And we 
 may obferve what care was always taken, to fuit 
 the feveral difpenfations to the ftate of the 
 world, and introduce each as foon as it was want- 
 ed, and in fuch a way as was moft neceffary, to 
 
 cor- 
 
 11. The vow follows jr. 22. [>] and, Thereforc\ this flone which I 
 have fet for a pillar, fhall be Crod's houfe [a place dedicated to his 
 worfhipj and of all that thou Ihalt give ir.e, I will furely give the 
 tenth unto thee.* 
 
 * That from the beginning of the world each patriarchal cove- 
 nant, or blefling, was to be underllood as VipLdge of other diftant and 
 fuperior ones, may be feea in an Effay on the fe-vcral Difpenfations of 
 God, by the late Ld. Barrington, p. 20, 24, 25, 59, Gi, 69. 
 
 f In a feries of copulatives the laft affumes a fignification different 
 from the preceding copulatives. So Gen.xxv. 34.. [I] and Ejau did 
 eat and drink, [^] and rofe up, [I] and went his way: [^ and] thus 
 ifau defpifed his birth-right. And in the Greek Epigram, 
 
 K«t 'orevKx.v I^oc, KAI ^iTio? a^ocvxroiq. 
 
 Here, I prefume, the laft xa» is to be rendered by tamen, 'verunta- 
 tien, nihilominus. So in this place under confideration, the laft [l] 
 and, which precedes the vow, ftiould be rendered then, or therefore. 
 But our tranflators have given it this fenfe, not before the vow* but 
 before the laft article^f the recapitulation of the promife ; and {o 
 have not done juftice to the good old Patriarch's charafter. I have 
 looked into Pagninh interlineary verfion, and find that the Latin 
 tranflation will enable you to form a juft idea of this criticifm. Only 
 obferve, that Montanus, his revifor and corre6lor, has printed the^^.' 
 before the laft article of the recapitulation, which we render then, in 
 the //.r//V charafter ; intimating, I fuppofe, that the copulative there 
 is redundant ; in order the better to make out the common way o* 
 interpreting the place; but this does violence to the original, and 
 aggravates the miftake. Comp. Purnjer on Gen. xxviii. 21 • 
 
 F 
 
82 of the fever al Difpenfatiom 
 
 correct diforders and reform abufes, as they rofej 
 and thereby keep up a face of rcUgion ; and gra- 
 dually increafe the fubftance of it : in the fame 
 manner, as Providence always took care to im- 
 part to mankind, fo much knowledge of the 
 world, the ways of cultivating it, and arts of liv- 
 ing, as was requifite to make life a bleffing to 
 them J though their knowledge of both kinds, 
 was neither of fo refined a nature, nor fo high a 
 degree, as it muft grow to, by the experience and 
 improvements of after-ages. 
 
 Mankind were fcarcely got out of their Child- 
 hood yet, with regard to what may be called the 
 theory of religion; and notwithftanding there 
 might always be fome extraordinary perfons, who 
 had a more enlarged profpeft of things, and en- 
 tertained more worthy fentiments of the divme 
 Providence, fuch as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, _ and 
 the like; yet thefe were far fuperior to the times 
 in which they lived ; and we have reafon to thmk 
 that the generality, both in this, and fome later 
 ages, extended their views no farther than the 
 prefcnt life, and its conveniences * : and though 
 ^ from 
 
 * This fcems to have been the cafe even with Abraham himfelf 
 for fome time, who upon haviug an extraordinary promife made to 
 him by God in a vifion, Qc«. xv. i. Fcm- ^ot, I am thy fineU, and 
 ,hy exceeding gnat re-^vard; rifes no higher in h.sanfwer, than only to 
 rcqucft an heir for his fubftance, ■}■. Z, J. And Koximfutd, Lordi.od, 
 dat i.ilt thou pi-e mc, fenng I go chtldhfs, audtheflen.nrd of my houje 
 is this Eliczer ./Damafcusr A.ul Ahv^m Jaid. Behold, to meihouhnft 
 ^/■ViH no feed; and h, one ton, in my houf is mine heir. Unlefs this be 
 tnterpretcd in the fame fcnfe with th^t general earneft defire of pol- 
 teritv fo common in his time, and for which AWx has endeavoured 
 
 to acc-iunt, from the no lefs common expeaation entertained by eacn 
 
 particular family of having the MeJJiah defcend from them, [Rf «;. 
 
 Pt. i. c. XV, &c.] and wiiich might therefore well be included in 
 
 Abraham'i requeft. 
 
 S3 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 
 
 from the confufed remains of ancient tradition, 
 they acknowledged fome power above them -, and 
 frequently applied thither for direftion in affairs ; 
 yet it was In the petty affairs of this world only ; 
 and their belief and worftiip were accordingly. 
 How many of thefe fuperior powers there might 
 be, or how far their influence might reach, they 
 knew not : uncertain whether there was one fu- 
 preme Governor of the whole v/orld, or many co- 
 ordinate powers, prefiding over each country^, 
 cUmate, or particular place f ; gods of the hills, 
 and of the valleys, as they were termed in after- 
 times X 'y they thought, the more of thefe they 
 could engage in their intereft, the better; and 
 therefore wherever they came, like the Samaritans, 
 they fought the manner of the God of the land-, and 
 ferved him together with their own gods |1. Thus 
 was the world running apace into idolatry, and 
 ready to lofe the very notion of the true God, 
 and his worfhip; had he not been pleafed to in- 
 terpofe, and take effeftual care to preferve thefe 
 pure in fome one nation ; to be kept apart from 
 the common contagion, and made, as it were, the 
 repofitory of true religion; and a channel to 
 convey it to the reft of mankind; as foon, and in 
 as high a degree, as they fhould become capable 
 
 of receiving it. 
 
 To this purpofe, he makes way for the removal 
 of facob and his family, to one of the moft im- 
 proved and poliihed parts of the world at that 
 
 time ; 
 
 ♦ 2 Kings xvHi. 34, 35. t See 'Numh. xxlii. 13, 27. 
 X I Kings XX. 2 j, 28.' Vid. Calmet. \\ 2 Kings xvii. 33. 
 
 F 2 
 
84 Of the fcvcj-al Difpenfatwis 
 
 time; and introduces them into it, in fo advan- 
 tageous a manner, as to give them opportunity 
 of imparting fomcwhat of the true religion, with 
 advantage, to the nioft confiderable families in it J; 
 and without much danger of fliaring in thofe 
 corruptions which were getting ground there ||. 
 They are placed by themfelves upon the borders 
 oi Egypt, where they multiply exceedingly ; yet 
 by their very occupation § are ftill kept a fepa- 
 rate people ; and rendered more averfe to the man- 
 ners 
 
 X It is very apparent from the Mofaic hlHory, that the Hebrews 
 were never held in fuch detellation or abhorrence by the Egyptians, 
 but that they would freely converfe, though they might not eat 
 bread with them. Qr.veu, B. L. f. 8. And * when they departed 
 out of Egypt we are exprefsly told, that a great multitude went alfo 
 with them, who are all with good reafon fuppofed to have been fo 
 many piofclytes to their religion ; as Strabo teftifies. Geogr. L. 16.* 
 
 |] * Although the Egyptian priells were not, in my humble opi 
 nion, now idolaters; yet God, well knowing the infinity of wealth 
 now pouring in upon them, and forcfeeing the confequentincreafmg 
 corruptions, always attendant upon great national wealth ; kindly 
 provided againft them, by placing the wifeft and beft man in the 
 world (Jojeph) guardian of that people in general ; and at the fame 
 time, the high favourite of their King, and ally of their priells, and 
 continuing him in thofe characters for a long train of years; which 
 to my thinking, was a moll adorable fcheme to recover, promote, 
 preferve, and if poflible, perpetuate, their piety, virtue, andwifdom.' 
 Kev. Exam, with candour. Vol. III. c. 9. p. 194.-— * 1 am certain, 
 they v/ere not idolaters when Jr/cf>h prefided in Egypi ; nor were tht- y 
 fuch grofs idolaters, even when the children of I/rael came out of 
 Eg\pt; for lcck5 and onions were then a favourite food — although 
 afterwards — they were deified.' //'. 199. 
 
 § See Gen. xlvi, 35, 34. * And here we cnnnot but admire his- 
 ivij'Hcm who found out and evacuraed a land for them. I mean that 
 of Gofien in every refpea fuirnble to the purpcjfe : a land where they 
 might live diilinct by themrdves, and yet daily converfe with the 
 moil celebrated nation then upon earth; a land lately dcferied by 
 xhc ShtpherA Kings, and their fubjects, and therefore well adapted 
 for the reception oi Shepherds again. Nor can we Icfi admire his 
 gfjcdnep, who v;hen he had fpied out this land for them, was pleafcd 
 to detifch fro.m his couniry and kindred another pcrfon of cminciu 
 qualities and great piety,' and to fend him, even Jofph, who war 
 loid to be a bond fcrvant, — as a kind of ambaffador before thcuK 
 to rrocurc an intereft for their fetth'mcut in it' Qtiv;/, B. L. i, 5i. 
 
 of Re^ceakd Religion. 8 5 
 
 ners and religion of their neighbours, by a long 
 and fcvere oppreffion: Which, though it might 
 at firft perhaps have chiefly been occafioned by 
 their oppofition to the growing idolatry -f- ; and 
 refufal to incorporate themfelves with that infe6l- 
 ed nation : yet became very neceflary afterwards, 
 both to keep up that oppofition ; and to inure 
 them to reftraint and government : And that it 
 might have the effefts intended, but not proceed 
 fo far as to reduce them to an entire fubjeftion, 
 and conformity to that more potent people, 
 through a defpair of any deUverance; the precife 
 time of this their trial was foretold to Abraham % ; 
 and as foon as it had been accompliflied, and they 
 had cried for help to their God ||; they are brought 
 back, in as wonderful a way as they had been 
 fent thither; which alfo was foretold to faccb%\ 
 and repeated by Jofeph^'-y all the circumftances 
 whereof are at large related in their hiftory; and, 
 I muft add, with all thofe chara6lers of truth and 
 confiftency, which might be fhewn (were this a 
 place for it) to receive new confirmation, from 
 every fuch attempt to burlefque and expofe it, as 
 is made by a late profligate writer -f-j-. 
 
 The God of Ifrael having at length magnified 
 himfelf over the Egyptians and their gods ||||, by 
 
 t See Chandler, Vind. O. T. pag. 487. and Oiven, ib. 
 
 X Jasyiu6. II Exod.ii.ZT,. $ G^tt. xlvi, 4. and xlviii. 21. 
 
 *■ Gen. 1. 24, 25. 
 
 ft Moral Philofipher, Introd. to Vol. III. 
 
 nil Perhaps by deftroying all their images or temples. Vid.C/?r/V. 
 & Pair, in Exod»y\\, 12. Comp. Numb, xxxiii. 4. Paraphr. Jonath. 
 in loc. & 2 Sam, vii. 23. The reafon of which may be gathered 
 from note (/) p. 93. Perhaps by exerting his power upon them in 
 
 F ^ fuch 
 
86 Of the fever al Dfpenfations 
 
 a feries of the moft aftonifhing miracles; and 
 refcued his people from them, in fuch a manner 
 as muft rtrlke the utmoft furprife and terror into 
 the whole land; and fpread his name much far- 
 ther, by means of the many ftrangers that ufed 
 to travel thither:]:, in order to be acquainted 
 with the hiftory of that famous nation, from 
 whom the greateft part of the world derived their 
 policy and religion || : having thus, I fay, made 
 his name great among the heathen § ; as v/ell as 
 worked fo confpicuous a deliverance for his chofen 
 people, as might, one would think, have been 
 fufficient to engage them for ever in his fervice; 
 yet finding all this inefle6lual to correft their 
 pronenefs to idolatry, he is obliged to defer their 
 entrance into tlie promifed land for fome time, 
 and proceeds to inftrucl and exercife them in the 
 wiidcrnefs; lie patiently exhorts, and intreats 
 them to tlieir duty, and warns them againft all 
 the vices of the people round about them : gives 
 them ftatutcs, and judgments, though not fo 
 perfect as they would probably have been were 
 the fubjeds of them capable of receiving better, 
 
 [fee 
 
 fuch a manner as ferved cqinily to dcmcnHrate the nullity of the 
 gods they worfliipped, as to punllh the crimes they had been q;uilty 
 of in conYequenceof that worfliip. See this particularifed in Dr. O- 
 «u'^;;'s Intent and Propr. of Script. Miracles, p. '3,'jA^- & B. L. f ic, 
 
 X See the notes below, with Chandler'' '=> Vindication of the hiftory 
 of the Old. Ted. Part ii. p. 464, &c. and p. 499. 
 
 II \ id. Died, Sic. L. i. Hcrodot, L. ii. c 43, ^^c. et iritfii Egypt. 
 
 L. iii. t . n» 16. 
 
 § Th:»t this remarl:ab!c punidimcnt of the Egyptiam was inflided 
 in great goodncfs to the generality <'f that nation themfelves on the 
 whole, as well as to t)ic ncit^hbourir.c^ nr^ticns round them, from 
 whom they derived moft of their groffeft fuperilitions, may be feea 
 at brge in Lc CLrc en P/J. c::xxvi. 1 u — : 7. 
 
 of Revealed Religion . 8 7 
 
 [fee note/^.] yet much more excellent and righte- 
 ous than thofe of any other nation ^ ; and fuch 
 as were to be a model to the reft of the world f; 
 fends his angel before them, to keep them in the 
 way X ; takes upon himfelf the civil government 
 of them ; and by his prefence guides, guards, 
 dire6ls them in all their undertakings. He con- 
 dafts them through the neighbouring nations, 
 with repeated figns and v/onders {0) ; and conti- 
 nues 
 
 * Deut. iv. 8. rr -n rr 
 
 f Vid. Jofeph. contr. Ap. Seldm de Jur. Gent. &c. paffim. Eufcb. 
 Pra^D Ev r^ ix c 2*^. 
 
 X ExcJ. xxiii.'2o— 23. xxxil. 34. Probably C^/v/? himfelf, who 
 feems to have fpoken imto Mo/es in Mount Sim, Adls vii. 38 ; and 
 whom the children of Ifrael are faid to have tempted m the wildcrnefs, 
 1 Cor. X. 9. [Comp. IF/jitfy'] to which alfo fome refer fJel^. xi. 26. 
 Vid. Doddridae in loc. Nor is it lefs probable, that the lame divme 
 perfon, who created the world, [Ccl. i. 16.] had alfo the government 
 and adminiftration of it from the very beginning; appearing to our 
 iirft parents, to the Patriarchs and their poftenty, [Gen. xvii. i. 
 XXXV. 9. 1 1. 13. xlviii. 15,16.] fometiir.es in the name:i\\d. charader 
 oijchcvah, Exod. xxiii. 21. [Ifai. vi. I. 5. Comp. y^.xii.41.] or 
 theVc/^^/;^^of God, ib. xxxiii. 14. or his //V./, according to the 
 Jcrufalem Targum paflim. fometimes as his Angel, Ijai. Ixiii. 9. vid. 
 Lozvth. the captain of his hoft, Jcjh. v. 13, 14. the mcfenger of his 
 covenant, MaL iii. I. though under the name oi Michael, the Arch- 
 angel, he was more particularly diftinguiftied as the tutelary Prince 
 of lirael, Deut. xxxii. 8, 9. according to the feventy, Z)^«. x. 21. xu, 
 1. Eccl^^^ xvii. 17. Re'v. xii. 7. See Peirce on Phil. 11. 7, 9, lO.Hcb. 
 i. 7, 9, See. Taylor, Scheme of Script. Div. c^i 5. p. 162 Jortnu 
 Difc p 18 note* 2d Ed. Dehp Coiicio ad Ccr. in Heb. xiii. ». 
 FlemiZ', Chriftol. B. ii. c. 6. Theol. Rep. No 3. V III. p. 280, &c. 
 Tenijln oi Uo\. c. 14. Pt. 5. Sharpr, Rife and Fall oVJerufalem, p. 
 ^ I . ' Ld ^^rr/W^;/, Eftay on the feveral Difpenfations. Addenda, p. 
 1 27, I XL. Mix, Judgment of the Jcwiili Church, &c. who has ex- 
 haufted this fubjea in refpeft of both fcripture teftimonies and tra- 
 dition. Comp. //rtr'ivW, DifT. 2d. , r , ; 
 
 (0) Numb. xiv. 14. They ha-ve heard that thou. Lord, art among this 
 people, that then. Lord, art' fecn face 10 face, andthycloHdJanddhc^jcr 
 the7r:, and that thou goef before them by day-time in a pillar of a cloud, 
 and in a pillar off re by night ; f. \^.—The nations ha^ve heard toe fame 
 ofthce. Addi/.«/.ii.2 5. y#.ii.io. i^^/«.iv.8.-vi.6. which 
 places, bv the way, furnilh us with an anfwer to that objeaion of 
 the Mor, 'PhiL Vol. III. p. 183. that * had God given any fuch — 
 
 p 4^ authority 
 
88 Of the federal Difpenfations 
 
 nucs to try and difcipline them, till either they 
 were cured of thofe corruptions that had been 
 contrafted in Egypt, or the molt incuiable part 
 of that generation were cut off* ; till they were at 
 length tolerably well attached to his government, 
 and eftablifhed in his v;orfliip ; till they were fit 
 and able to poffefs the promifed land, to which 
 they had a kind of original i ight f j and till the 
 
 prefent 
 
 authority to t\ic I/raehtesy as is hereafter mentioned— he would have 
 let the people oi Pahjiine know it, and in fome authentic way or 
 Other affured them, that he had given away their country to flrangers 
 and foreigners ; and that if they did not leave the land, and give 
 up all thSr natural lawful pofTefiions, rights, and properties, peace- 
 ably and without oppofition, they mult be all cut to pieces, men, 
 women, and children :' though this was not the truth of the cafe, 
 of v/hich more below. See 5. Bro-wuh Anfw. to ChrijK as eld, &c. p. 
 
 373»374- 
 
 * Nufnb. xxvi. 65. ^ ^ 
 
 f This nation, when they demanded admiflion into Canaan, might 
 have pleaded the pnjjejjlon of their anceftors for three fucceffive gene- 
 rations : that they were the firft pofiefTors of fome parts, \Gen, xii. 6. 
 xiii. 3, 9j o<:c.] that they \izA built altars, [xii. 7. xxxiii. 20.] and 
 dug leveral xiv/A in other parts of it; [xxi. 25. xxvi, 18, &c.] and 
 that they \\2.^ pur chafe U m^xo, than one place in that country [xxiii. 
 16, 17. xxxiii. 19.] On the other hanJ, the ancient inhabitants 
 from the flood could perhaps have infilled on no other title than 
 e'rcfcription: and farther, however jnft tlieir pica might have been, 
 we^ire aflured that they had abfolutcly/cr/W/tt/it by their notorious 
 violation of the law of nature. Dcut, xx. 18, &c. Durcll, App. to 
 Parallel Prophecies of facob and Mfes, p. 160. Another ingenious 
 Author carries up the right of this people much higher. ' We are 
 told that the nations of the earth had an inheritance affigned them, 
 and that it v.'as by Divine appointment. Moreover, that at the ge- 
 neral difperfion it pleafed God to have a provident regard for a na- 
 tion which was to come, even for the Ions of lfrad\ and in the 
 diftribution of countries, had fet bounds to other families, that they 
 fhould not trefpafs on the inheritance of Jacob, which v/as his own 
 portion. Thus limits were prcfcribcd according to the neceflitiesof 
 a people to come, and to the fpace which would be requifite for 
 their numbers to inhabit. In other »vords, the land of Canaan was 
 excepted out of the general partition. This fpace was ufurped by 
 the people who gave name to it. They knew the Divine allot- 
 ment, yet wilfully tranfgrefTed : on which account they brought 
 thcmfelves and th^ir poflerity under the fevered curfe, and juflifted 
 
 every 
 
 . ^ 
 
 ' 
 
 V 
 
 5 l» 
 
 \ 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 8 9 
 
 prefent inhabitants were ripe for deftru6lion *. 
 At their entrance into it, he gives a fummary re- 
 petition of their former laws, with more fuch or- 
 dinances II, both of a ceremonial and moral kind, 
 as were beft fuited to their temper and circum- 
 ftances ; and adapted every way to prevent the 
 dangers, and corre6l the irregularities, to which 
 they became continually liable (/^) ; as well as to 
 
 pre- 
 
 every thing which they afterward fuffered for their rebellion : though 
 at the time of their punilhment their guilt was accumulated with 
 additional wickednefs and apoflacy.' Br^anth Enquiries into fome 
 parts of Ancient Hift. p. 262. 
 
 * Gen, XV. 16. 
 
 ]| Deut. i. 3, 5, 27, 31. ^e^' IX. 14. 
 
 (/.) See Dr. Bur?iet's Boyle's Left. p. 541. fol. and the author of 
 Div, Leg, Vol. 11. B. iv. fea. 6. * It feems not to have been God's 
 intention at firft to lay upon them fuch numbers of ceremonies; for 
 it was only after the commiffion of the fin of the golden calf, that God 
 laid on them that heavy and troublefome yoke, on purpofe to em- 
 ploy all their time, and fo keep them from falling into idolatry 
 again.* Jllix, Reflea. p. 203. Ea eft indoles vulgi, pr^fertim apud 
 gentes idololatrice deditas, ut a fe numen coli fatis ftudiofe non putet, 
 nifi operofo cultu id profequatur; cui indoli M-t/^j fefe adtemperavit. 
 At fi cum doaioribus hominibus, quales Chrifto in terras delapfo 
 plurimi erant, res ei fuiflet, nihil aliud docuiffet, quam quod ber- 
 vator & apoftoli difcipulis fuis inculcavere. — Cleric. inEx.xxy.31. 
 Comp. Spencer de Ltg, Heb, L. i. c. 4. fea. 4. Trigland de Orig. et 
 Cauf Rit. Mof Burnet de Fid. &Ofr. p. 17. from Jer. vii. iz, 23. 
 [on the other fide, fee Shuckford, Vol. UI. p. 1 5 1 .] If this be a true 
 account of the y^'xu//?' inftitution, then though it really was, what it 
 is termed, 2iyoke of bondage, yet neverthelefs it might well be im- 
 pofed by God himfelf, as being the fitteft thing for the people to 
 whom, and the times in which it was delivered, and conlequently 
 not unworthy of having God for its author; as a licentious modern 
 writer would infmuate, Moral Philofopher, VoL I. p. 51, &c. 
 
 The various wife and good ends ferved in each part of the Hebrew 
 Ritual, may be feen in Loivman, Rational, pajf. That it could not 
 have \i\g\\QV fandions becaufc it was only a ritual, or have been more 
 perfed, confiftently with the chief of thefc ends, a;/^;. its preparing 
 men for a better ftate of religion under the MeJJtab, vid. ibid. Part 
 iii. c. 2, 3. Comp. Dr. Durell's Differt. on the Mofaic Inftitution, 
 App. to Parallel Proph. of Jacob and Mofes, 
 
90 Ofthefeveral Dtfpenfatioits 
 
 prefigure, and by degrees prepare them for * a 
 more perfeft difpcnfation under the Meffiah. The 
 moral part breathed nothing but equity, and be- 
 nevolence ; it difluaded them from all kinds of 
 cruelty and opprellion, by reminding them of their 
 late heavy fufferings under fuch treatment; and 
 inculcated the greateil humanity, both towards 
 each other, toward ftrangers, icrvants, enemies; 
 and even the beafts of tlie field f . The ceremo- 
 nial parts were folemn and fplendid %, apt to en- 
 gage and fix the attention of a people, whofe 
 heart was grofs ; fitted to infpirc them with an 
 awful reverence; and v/ithdraw their affections, 
 from the pomp and pageantry of idol worfhip ; 
 which had fo very furprifingly bewitched the 
 world about that time. It was filled with ope- 
 rofe, magnificent rites, to keep them duly em- 
 ployed and attached to it; and fo far mixed and 
 incorporated v/ith their civil polity, that tlie fame 
 tilings were duties of religion, and acts of ftate ; 
 and the fervice of God became the conftant bu- 
 finefs, as well as entertainment of their lives (jr). 
 
 Nor 
 
 • See BurnethBoylc^ Left. fol. 547. or Beniman, Serm. xxiii. or 
 Witjtus, JEgy^t. L. iii. c. 14. fed. 17. 
 
 t Exod. xxii. 21, — 27. :md xxxiii. 5, 6, 9,-12, Deut. v. 14. 
 X.18. xiv.2i. xvi. II. andxxii. I, — 4, 6, 7. xxiii. 7. xxiv.io,&c. 
 XXV. 1,-4. XXVI. 12. xxvii. 19. Lc-j xix. 9, 10, 77, — 37. andxxv. 
 35,-38. Sqc Lc!and'sAn(\w. toCbrlJK as oU, Sec. V, Il.'p. 447,&c. 
 Le Chrc on GV//. viii. 9, 10. Philo, 4e charitarc. Jo/,;>b. contr. jlp, 
 L. ii. So utterly falfe and flanderous is the f Hewing a/Tertion of 
 I,d. BoUngbrcke, Works, Vol. \\\. p. 296. * The firil principles and 
 the whole tenor of the Jc-j:ip? Jaws took them out of 'all moral ob- 
 ligations to the reft of mankind.* 
 
 \ /^^^t^/, Schcmeof Prov. p. 7o,c^-c. Agreement of the Cufloms 
 between t\it Eaji- Indians, and the Jc^us, art, 3. p. 23. 
 
 (y) See UnlucrJ, Hiji, p. 694. WclJlccU p. 72, ^z: Ednvards's Sur- 
 vey, Vol. I. p. 242, 255, &c. or Limborchy Amic. CcUat. p. 317. 
 
 We 
 
 
 
 
 
 of Revealed Religion . o i 
 
 Nor was this inftitution wholly confined to th 
 yews. The law itfelf was given to ftrangers (§), 
 and thofe that accompanied them from Egypt ^ 
 the Cove?iant was made with all the Gentiles^ that 
 fliould hereafter become profelytes to their reli 
 gion (-f-); and fufficient care was taken, to com- 
 municate it to them ; as we fhall fee prefently. 
 
 And though the children of Ifrael were to have 
 no commerce with the Sevejt Nations ^, but were 
 commanded to deftroy them, and poflefs them- 
 felves of their country; on their refufing to fub- 
 mit to certain terms, and reje6ling offers of 
 peace (t): yet, to prevent their imagining them- 
 felves the only favourites of Heaven, and learn- 
 ing 
 
 We may add, that the ceremonial part itfelf might hare a moral 
 view, reprefenting feveral duties to them in that emblematical, and 
 parabolic way, which was well known, and commonly made ufe of 
 in thofe times. See inftances in Burnetts Bcyle^s Le£l. p. 542. fol. 
 
 Other rites were inftituted in Commemoration of great and iignal 
 events, extraordinary afts of providence towards their nation ; the 
 keeping up a conftant remembrance of which could not but be of 
 great ufe for preferving the love and worfhip of God amongft them, 
 awakening their gratitude, and engaging their dutiful obedience. 
 Lclnud, Div. Auth. of the O. and N. T. aiTerted againil the Moral 
 Philof, p. 50. 
 
 Nor were the publicy^^z/?/. In which they were all obliged to meet 
 at one place, of lefs ufe to them; by keeping them united together 
 in one body politic. Le Clerc on Exod^ v. 3. and xxiii. 14. 
 
 Of the great ufe of t\\Q jubilee for the fame end. Id. in Lev. xxv. 
 10. p. 318. 
 
 (J) Deut, xxix. II. xxxi. 12. Jofi, viii. 33, 35. Exod. xii. 19, 49. 
 
 (f ) Dcut. xxix. 14, 15. Neither iJ^ith you only do I make this coue- 
 nant and this oath ; but <voith him that fiandeth here ~<vith us this day 
 before the Lord, and alfo ivith him that is not here njoith us this day. Sec 
 Lev, xxiv. 22. and 7£«i/V;, Vol. I. p. 60, — 65. oxlVcrih:?:giou\ Eflay, 
 p. 130. 
 
 {\) Deut, XX. 10, &'C. jfo/h, ii. 12. xi. 19, 20. xvi. 10. xvii. 13. 
 See Uui'V, Hiji, p. 53i» 53-« note I. Owen, B L. f. 12. n. p. Ed^ 
 ivards*s Survey, p. 355, &;c, Patricia on Ex. xxiii. 32. Shuc^jord^s 
 Conne<^\ion, Vol. III. B. xii. p. 433, Sec, Selden De Jur. Nat. L. vi, 
 c. 14. F indlay, hn(\\tr io ydtairc^ p. 130, &c. 
 
02 Of the fever al Dfpenfations 
 
 ing to defpife, and hate the reft of mankind; (as 
 they were but too apt to do, and which, to a 
 people under their circumftances, was in fome 
 mealure unavoidable) they were told, at the fame 
 time, that it was for the incorrigible wickednefs 
 of thefe nations*, (who of all others had been 
 favoured with the greateft means of information, 
 viz. from the examples of fo many eminent men 
 placed amongft them, and from the judgments 
 of God fo remarkably fet before them f) that the 
 Lord had driven them out ; as he would do them 
 alfo, if they followed their fteps % ; that if any of 
 thefe remained long unfubdued, they would infal- 
 libly prove a fnare to them || ; and that there- 
 fore, as well for their own fecurity, as in execu- 
 tion' of the divine vengeance, they were obliged 
 to extirpate them ; at leaft the prefent genera- 
 tion §; or to deftroy their tiational polity**; and 
 at the fame time, were fufficiently warned to 
 avoid their crimes. They were likewife often re- 
 minded of their own perverfenefs, and ingrati- 
 tude ff; and aflured that it was not for their own 
 fakes, that they were thus diftinguiflied § § j for 
 they had always been a ftifF-necked, and rebellious 
 
 peo- 
 
 • Li'v xviii. 24, 2;. and xx. 23. See LeUd againft Chrijl. 
 
 was more particularly fevere, becaufe their idolatry was ot the 
 "roVeft natSre ; for they offered up their e„en,.es>n ^'^f^e and 
 ?ven their own fons and daughters unto Molcch.' Mr. "V^r s Eflay 
 on the Beauty of the Divine (Economy, p- 27- 
 
 + See Ji>ii!>t, Vol. I. p. 56, 57. and 77, 7»- .. 
 
 I />«/ viii, .9. ^o. jl £*. xxxiv. .2. /f. xxiu .3. 
 
 6 l^ih xvi. 10. ludz- • 2;- xxvm. 35. I Kmgi ix. 20, .1. 
 . IS. ii: ^ CkrL viii. 7, 8. See W.., Vol L p 71 , 7- 
 
 ** Sskes, Counea. of Nat, and Rev. Rel. c.xiii. p. 332. ^c- 
 
 y; Drut, ix. 4,-24. U I^-ix. 6, 7, &c. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 93 
 
 people; but in regard to the promife made to 
 their forefathers ; and on account of the fuperior 
 wickednefs of thefe nations (r) ; that the great 
 intent of God was to raife up, and feparate a peo- 
 ple, which fhould manifeft his power to the hea- 
 then; and make his name known through the 
 earth**; which were to be a kingdom of priejis (§), 
 preachers of righteoufnefs, and publilhers of true 
 religion, all over the world: that this defign had 
 taken place before they were born, and would be 
 carried on, whether by their obedience, or their 
 difobedience ; who were to be examples to all 
 others, both of the goodnefs, andfeverity of God f. 
 And accordingly, in the remainder of their hif- 
 tory, both under their yW^^i and kings, we find 
 them frequently rebelling, and as frequently pu- 
 niflied for it; as foon as they repent, they are 
 
 re- 
 
 (r) That this was fuch as juftly deferved exemplary punifhment, 
 from the fupreme Governor of ihe world, and that it might with 
 equal juftice be infliaed by fuch perfons as received an exprefs, clear 
 commiffion from him for that purpofe, is (hewn at large m Lo-wman s 
 Differtation on the civil government of the ///?^r^n;/, c. i. p. I3,&c. 
 and c. xii. p. 221, &c. or 5. Bro^ivncy p. 366, &c. Comp. Biyant's 
 Obfervations, p, 265, &c. 
 
 Concerning the great propriety of puniflimg them by the fword 
 of the I/raelitesj rather than any other way ; both for the better ad- 
 monition of the Ifraeliies themfelves and of their heathen neighbours ; 
 and how much the credit of the gods of every nation depended on 
 the fate of nvar, fee Jenkin, Vol. 1. p. 72. Logman, ib. p. 228, &c. 
 Uni'vef-f.Hifl. p. 893. fol. not. T. ad. fin. jack/on's Remarks on 
 Chriff. as oU, &c. p. 5 I . 
 
 Many inftanccs of this occur as low as Conftantlne-, to which pur- 
 pofe we have a remarkable fpeech of Licinius in Eufeb. De vit. ConJI, 
 c. V. To which we may add, that as the people in thofe times did 
 not in the leaft difpiite the reality of each others deities, no kind of 
 miracles but fuch as implied fuperior /cot-^r, could induce any of 
 them to quit their own, for other objeas of religious worlhip. 
 Comp. I Kin^s xx, 23,-28. 2 Kings xviii. 34, &c. 
 
 * Ezck. xxxvi 22, 23 (5) Exoti. xix. 6. 
 
 f Dent. XXX, xxxi, xxxii. Rom. xi. 22, 
 
g^ Of the federal Difpenfations 
 
 reftored ; when they relapfe, they arc again chaf- 
 tifcd * y all along alternately finning and fiifFer- 
 in<^; immediate and vifible judgments attending 
 each revolt i either oppreiiion in their own, or 
 flavery in foreign countries; till the laft great 
 captivity in Babylon feems to have quite cured 
 them of their favourite, predominant vice Idola-- 
 try ; to which they had been before fo unaccount- 
 ably {s) addiiSled. 
 
 But 
 
 • Jud^, 111. S, 12. IV. 2. VI. I. xiii. I. I Sam. xii. 9, 10, 5t,c. 
 The propriety of thefe difpenfations, the laft great captivity in par- 
 ticular, is illuftrated in Taylor's Scheme of Script. Div. c. 32. 
 
 (s) Le Clerc attempts to give fome account of this in his note on 
 2 Kin^rs xxi. II. which well deferves to be confidered. Comp. Patrick 
 on Juiig. ii. 12. [and I Sam. viii. 20. where they are fo furprifingly 
 urgent for a king on the fame principle.] * I can account for it 
 (fays an ufeful writer*) upon no other confideration, but that of the 
 exceeding great temptations there are in all religions, that are 
 a mere mixture of ci^vi I policy and priejicra/ty drefTed up with all the 
 artifices of external pomp, fplendor, and amufemcnt, and made 
 agreeable to the corrupt and vicious inclinations of men. Such no 
 doubt was the Heathen nt'orJJ^ip, to which that of the goUen cal/horc 
 too near a rcfemblance, both in its original and progrefs. And when 
 we turn our thoughts to thofe ages and nations of the world, that 
 are called ChriJIian, [and fuppofed to be under far happier advant- 
 ages of light and knowledge, than ever the Jei.vijh church was,] and 
 obfervc to what extravagances both of notions and pradlices, the 
 Ro7nifi ccmrnumon hath for fo long a time, and by the like means, 
 influenced the majority of the nations round, it will, I conceive, 
 much abate the wonder arifing from this matter, confidered in rela- 
 tion to the church of Ifjad.'* 
 
 The parallel inftance above mentioned, affords likewife a good 
 illuftration of the degree of their corruption. For that this crime of 
 the Ifratlites did not confifl in their abfolute rejedion of the true God, 
 but onlv in joining the worftilp of other gods, and taking them into 
 communion with him, is made plain by a very able writer. * So 
 Itrons: was this univcrfal prejudice of intercommunity^ that all the 
 provifionsof the law could not keep thofe people from running into 
 the error. For their frequent defcdion into idolatry, till after the 
 Babshnijh captivity, was no other than the joining foreign worfliip 
 to that of the God of Ifrael. It is a vulgar error to imagine this 
 confiitcd in renouncing the religion delivered to them by i)/fi/v, as a 
 
 falfc 
 
 * Pjk, Prcf. to Paraph, on Ihc 0. T. Vol. IV. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 9 5 
 
 But all this v/hile the reft of the world reap 
 almoft the fame benefit by them, whether they 
 keep their law, and profper; or difobey it, and 
 are in diftrefs. One would naturally fuppofe, 
 that they muft partake of the improvements of 
 the Je^LVs religion in fome degree, as well as thefe 
 nartook of their corruptions. And this appears to 
 be the cafe in fact: and as it has been obferved 
 of Greece, that when it was fubdued by the Ro- 
 mans, itfclf fubdued its conquerors, foftened 
 their fovage temper, and refined their manners ; 
 and afterwards of the Romans themfelves, that 
 wherever they conquered, they in fome degree 
 civiUzcd the world* : fo may it with much greater 
 juftice be faid of the Jews, that they improved, 
 and reformed the religion of every people, who 
 were either brought under fubje6lion to them, or 
 into whofe hands they fell-f : who were witnefl^es 
 of the power, and juftice of their God, either in 
 diftinguifliing them by rewards, for their adher- 
 ing to him is or as remarkably punifhing them, 
 
 for 
 
 falfe one ; they all along held it to be true ; but, deluded by the 
 prejudice of this intercommunity , they were apt to regard the God of 
 Ifrael, only as a local, tutelary Deity.' Di^v. Leg. B ii. fed. 6. Add 
 B. V. fca. 2. See alfo Jurieu, Crit. Hift. Vol. II. F. iii. c. 9. Mede'^ 
 Apoftacy of the latter times, c. x. p. 651. Le Clerc on j^cls vii, 42. 
 Teni/on of Idolatry, C. vi. p. no. As to the intercommunity among the 
 Heathens, fee Macrob. L.iii. c. 9. De evocandis diis tutelaribus. 
 
 * This is acknowledged on fome occafions by I'acitus himfelf 
 amidil his moft fatyricnl cenfures of the Roman policy; Seqaens 
 hiems faluberrimis confiliis abfumpta, ut homines difperfi, et rudcs 
 quicte et o;io per voluptatcs allueicerent, ^-c. Vit. Jgric. 
 f Atque utinain nunquam Jud:7a fubacta fuiffet 
 Pompeii bcllis, impcrioque Fiti : 
 Latius excifa? peftis contagia ferpant, 
 
 Yiftorefque fuos natio vifta premit. Rittil. Itiner. v. 398. 
 
 X This we find them publickly declaring, on the miraculous pre- 
 
 fervation of H.zdicih and liis people from the army of the AJyrians^ 
 
 5 2 Chron. 
 
96 Of the federal Difpenfations 
 
 for deferting him ; and who feeni to be well ac- 
 quainted with the intent of thefe his difpenfa- 
 tions {t) y efpecially, when they were made the 
 inftruments thereof* ; and on that account are 
 frequently ^iiXtdi his fervantsf. 
 
 Thus by the various revolutions in their go- 
 vernment, and frequent change of their condi- 
 tion, they fpread the knowledge of their hiftory 
 and religion far and near ; more efpecially, by 
 
 the 
 
 2 Chron, xxxii. 23. And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jeru^ 
 falem, and prcfents to Hezekiah king of Judah, fo that he was mag- 
 nified in the fight of all nations from henceforth. 
 
 (/) I Sam. iv. 8. Rom, ix. 17. This may be gathered from the cafe 
 of the men oVJericho in particular, who were fully informed of the 
 feveral miracles worked in i?iWO\xrofi\it I/radites^JofiAi. 9, 10. and 
 who muft have had fufficient warning of God's de%n therein, either 
 from common fame, or more probably, by exprefs revelation ; for 
 defpifine of which they are termed difobedlent by St.F^/^r, i ^/.i"- 20. 
 Comp./f^^.xi.si. See Shuckford, VoLUI. B.xn. P.403.&C And 
 that the fame thing might be done afterwards, in many other m- 
 fiances (as in the following note) by their own prophets who were 
 fent to the nations on that very account, is nolefs probable; as may 
 be feen in the notes a little below ; which gives a farther anfwer to 
 the Moral Philo/opher's objeaion mentioned, p. 87. note (0). 
 
 ♦ Ter 1.7. Allthat found them ha^^e devoured them\ and their ad^er-^ 
 
 fariesfaid. We offend not, hecavfe they havt finned againji the Lord the 
 
 habitation of jufiice, e'ven the lord, the hope of their fathers. The Lord 
 
 thv God {{^ys Nebuzaradan to Jeremiah) hath pronounced this e^vil upon 
 
 this place, No^-vj the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath 
 
 faid: hecaufeye ha^vt finned againft the Lord, and have not obeyed his 
 
 \ioice ; therefore this thing is come upon you, Jer. xl. 2, 3. f ^//J'?' ^^'^'^ 
 
 vp without the Lord againft this place to deftroy tt P IheLordfaidto me. 
 
 Go up againft this land to deftroy it, fays Rabft:akeh, 2 Kings xyiil. 25. 
 
 rthoueh he was miftaken in one point, imagming xh^tHezehah had 
 
 forfaken the Lord by taking a^^ay the altars and high places, znd con- 
 
 fining all religious worfhip to Jerufalem, ib. :^. 22.) Comp.// xxxvi. 
 
 lo To the fame purpofe fpeiks Pharaoh-Necho, 2 Chron. xxxv. 21. 
 
 whofe words are laid exprefsly to come/;w// the nicuth of God. ib. f. 
 
 22 This feems to be the moil probable fenfe cf both thefe places 
 
 notwithllanding Pr/^^««A-'sobjeaions, VoLI. p. 24. and 54^81.1 hd. 
 
 See Le Clerc on 2 Kings xviii. 22. and 2 Chron. fupra, and Ezra vni. 
 
 22. lev, vi. 6. xl. 2. Comp. i Efdras i. 27, 28. 2;i/.75.vui. 30. /v^/'^ 
 
 V. 17, &c. and Arnald'm loc. or Patrick QX\. Eftherw. 13, 
 
 f Jer, XXV, 9. xxvii. 6. xliii, 10. 
 
 1 
 
 of Revealed RcUgton. 97 
 
 the total difperfion of the ten tribes; and the 
 great captivity of Judah under the AJjyrians 
 and Babylonians \ when by their cleaving more 
 ftedfaftly to God, and refufmg to comply with 
 the idolatrous worihip of the Empire, they were 
 diftinguiftied by many extraordinory interpofi- 
 tions of Providence; and had feveral royal pro- 
 clamations, and public decrees, made in their fa- 
 vour ; which bore teftimony to the fupreme 
 power, wifdom, and juftice of their God\ as in 
 the fucceflive reigns of Nebuchadnezzar., Nabo- 
 nadha or Beljhazzary and Darius the Mede\ as 
 alfo of CA'ruSy Camh\fcs or Ahafuerus. Darius 
 Hyjlafpis^ Xerxes^ Ahafuci'us the fecond, or Artax^ 
 erxes * ; many of which princes found themfclves 
 defcribed before in the fe^ivijh prophecies ; fome 
 of them very expresfiy ; one by name. After 
 thefe, Alexander comes to Jcrufalemy confults 
 the prophecies of Daniel^ and offers facrifice to 
 the moft High-f-; and many of the Jews lift in 
 his troops X- After his death, Ptolemy ^ making 
 himfelf mafter of Judea^ carries above a hundred 
 thoufand Je^s into Egypt ; difperfes them through 
 every province ; employs the chief of them in 
 his army and garrifons; plants great numbers 
 
 in 
 
 • Dan. lii. 28. iv. I, 2, &c. vi. 25, &c. 2 Chron, xxxvi. 23. i Efd, 
 1. 27. ii. 3. viii. 8, &c. Ezra'i, 3. vi. 6, — 12. vii. 13. Neh, ii. 7, &c, 
 Efthc'ix, 32. and x. Conf. Jofeph. Contr. Jp. L. i. 8c Ant. L. xi. c. 
 I. et 5. 
 
 As to the effcSIs which thefe might naturally produce, fee Lc Clcre 
 en If. xli. 25. and Tayhrs Effay on the Beauty of the Divine CEco* 
 nomy, p. 38,-43. 
 
 t y^fiphus, L.xi. c.8. Pridcaiix Parti. B.vli. p. 487. Um'vcrfHift,^ 
 VoI.'lU. p. 345, &c. Jejinings Led. V. i. p. 71, S:c. though others 
 ^ueftion it. See MojIe*s W^orks, Vol II. Letti 4, and 6. 
 
 t Jofephus, L. xi. c. ult. 
 
r>8 Of the feveral Difpcnfations 
 
 in Cyrene and Lybia * ; and gives many more 
 of them extraordinary privileges in Alexandria^;. 
 His fon Philadelphus is faid to have procured a 
 tranflation of their law into Greek, the then moft 
 univerfal language; which was, as it were, a new 
 publication of their religion % ; and for which, 
 the Alexandrian Jews formerly kept a folemn day 
 of rejoicing |i : (though afterwards it was turned 
 into a faft; when they found what great ufe had 
 been made of that verfion by the Chrijliani%.) 
 His fucceflbr Euergetes offered facrifices, and gave 
 thanks to the God of Jfraeh for all his viaories > 
 having feen the prophecies of Daniel concerning 
 them ° and been convinced that he owed them 
 only to that God, whofe prophet had fo fully 
 predided them**. Ftclemy Philometor had a com- 
 ment on the five books of Mcfis dedicated to him, 
 by his preceptorff; and permitted Ow^i the High 
 Prieft, to build a temple in his kingdom, after the 
 
 model 
 
 • Pry. p. ;. B. vui. p. 5:6. Jc/eph. Ant.L.xii. C. 1. 
 
 T A C 277 V.uder Ann. When the world, having been omted 
 under one great empire, was in the bell manner prepared to receive 
 "t See^fiv's Refl^p. 1.. And uhen the ufe of 'he P^/^-. for 
 writing, juft foand out in that country, had contributed f" "^"ch ta 
 The infreife of books, and the advancement of learning. J<= JP'/^^ 
 Sch of Scr Div c. 7,7. Concerning the end and ufes which this 
 uanfla ion fen.ed, An.. Partii. 1 .6.. A more accurate account 
 of the compiling it, may be feen inPnV. Vol. II. p. H. &<:• ^t^Ed. 
 But comJ!^£.l-/. Hieroz. L.ii. c. 18. p. 216. and Prolegom. to 
 Cray's Sept. Tom. II. Prop. 12, &c. 
 
 11 p;,ih. Vit. Mo/. L. iii. Comp. Ba/rngf, B. yi. c. 5- J^^-."- 
 i Vid. Sepher f.m//'/* in Menf. Teb. and W/^ Not. in Chron. 
 jji. Ann.MJ. ct Prolegom. ad Grnk, Ed. Sept Tom. II. Prop. ;. 
 This faft is ftill kept by the Je.vs here, on the fifth day of the 4* 
 month Tciah, which anAvcr; to our December. 
 
 **Prid. Part II. B.ii. p. Si. Jofiph.QoMr.^pp.Uxi- 
 +t E.feb. Eccl. Hill. L vii. c. ult. &c. Pnf. Part .1. B. i. p. 29. 
 tu/b. l4p. Kvans. L. xiii. cap. 12. CUm. JU. Strom. L.i. & v. 
 
 4" 
 
 tv» 
 
 '/*' 
 
 '■t 
 
 
 tf Revealed Religion', 99 
 
 Itiodel of that at Jerufalemy and to perform the 
 fame worfhip in it*; whereby the prophecy of 
 Ifaiah was perhaps fulfilled -f-, that t\iZVQ JIjouU be 
 an altar unto the Lord in the inidji of the land of 
 Egypt % : and by this means, his name became as 
 well known there, as in Judea itfelf -, that temple 
 continuing for above three hundred and forty 
 years Ij. Under the Seleucidce they were in ftill 
 higher favour, and enjoyed more extenfive privi- 
 leges, being admitted into all the cities of the 
 leiier Afa, and allowed the fame rights as any 
 other citizens. When at length Judea was reduc- 
 ed to a Rofnan Province, this people, and their 
 religion, became no lefs known all over that vaft 
 empire. That they were very remarkably pre- 
 ferved, and profpered under it for fome time, is 
 particularly noted in its hiftory§. We find great 
 
 privileges 
 
 • Prid, B. i. p. 264. t I/aiah XlX. 1 9, 20. 
 
 X Ky this prophecy, the ye^^s thought themfelves authorized In 
 building a temple in Egypt^ though it was a thing otherwifc for- 
 bidden by their law. JlUx's Refled. p. 163. Comp. Glajf. Prief. Rhet. 
 Sac. p. 2;. How they afterwards perverted fome parts of it by cor- 
 rupting the old verfion of the lxx, maybe feen in Dr. Owen's En- 
 quiry into the prefent (late of that verfion, p. 40, &c. 
 
 II Jenkiriy Vol. I. p. 92. Jo/i-pkus fays 333 years, B. J.L.vii.c. 30. 
 
 § Dio Cajjius fays, Ka» ijx^ xai arac^a, toi; *Pa;/xato»? to ysvo? ruTo, 
 
 Tn; vofjua-eu; iKviKr^aeti. Ell id genus hominum (Judasorum) apud Ro- 
 manosetiam: atquetamctfi fjepenumeroimminutum fuerit, ita tamen 
 au6tum eft, ut legum quoque potejfatem 'vicerit. L. xxxvl^i. p. 41. D. Ed. 
 H. Steph. The hiftorian probably means no more, than that they pre- 
 vailed fo far againft the Romans, as to live by their own laws, or 
 preferve the free exercife of their religion ; which they did ^very 
 where, and which was an indulgence pretty extraordinary, confider- 
 ing their declared oppofition to all other eftablifhments ; and the 
 general odium which theyincurred fometimes, by abufing the favour. 
 Yet it is to be obferved, that the Jc^ms fel dom oppoled the Pagan 
 religion, as the Chriftians did ; biit pretended that Moj'cs had for- 
 bidden them to fpeak againft the. gods of other nations, or to rob 
 
 G z their 
 
100 Of the fever al Dfpenfatwis 
 
 privileges granted them by Julius Cafar * ; and 
 Auguftus\, Tiberius, Vitellius, alj fending viftims 
 to be offered at the temple of ferufalem %. 
 
 And thus did the four great fucceflive mo- 
 narchies, feverally contribute towards propagating 
 the knowledge of the true God in the world ; 
 thus, as the laft of his prophets had foretold |[, 
 from the rifing of the fun e^cen unto the going down 
 of the fame, was his name great among the Gen tiles §. 
 And though the fews were never able at once to 
 convert a whole nation ^^ to their church, and 
 make it the eftabliflied religion of the country ; 
 yet they gained every where very numerous profe- 
 htes (u) to their law 3 and many more to the be- 
 ^ lief 
 
 their temples. yc//»^//j talks in this way (Contr.^//.ii.33.) topleafe 
 and pacify the G.^nfilcs, The hiftorian Dlo hated the Je-ws,^ and knew 
 nothing of their religion, as appears in many places of his book. 
 
 * Jofeph, Contr. Jpp, ii. id. Ant. L. xvi. c. lo, &c. *In the fecond 
 Triumvirate, the Je^ivs were particularly taken notice of and fa- 
 voured. 4ntony introduced them to the fenate, where every thing 
 they defired was granted them ; they were permitted to ufe their 
 ceremonies, and the rites of their country, and to make facrihces as 
 their laws required. Lentulus alfo made a decree in their favour, that 
 all fuch as ufed the Je-ivijh ceremonies at Ephe/us, Ihould be exempted 
 from warfare by reafon of their religion. Mv. Taylor, ib. p. 48. . 
 
 f PJydo. Leg. ad Caium. „ t^ .. rr-t 
 
 X Tertullus Apol. h 26. Jfnkin, Vol. I. p. 86. Jllix, B.n. c. 25. The 
 fame thing had been often done before, particularly by Antiochus the 
 Great, [J o/eph. Ant. L.xii.c. 3.) and tinder 5t/i?«f7/j, when the :^^Tf} 
 were in fuch high efteem, that fovereign princes courted their friend- 
 iliip, and made magnificent prefents to the temple ;^ and Seleucus 
 furniihed out of his own trealury, all the expcnces of it. 2 Maccab. 
 iii, 2. — So far were they from being always that little inconfidcrable 
 nation, which feme rcprefcnt; particularly MiddUton ^r\&Bolingbroke. 
 Comp. Witjii ^gypt. L.iii. c. 12. fed. 17. Ldand, Advantge, &c. 
 Vol. I. Fart i. c. 19. Macknight, Truth of the Gofpel Hift. B. 3. 
 
 C. 2. 5 V * P'476. 
 
 II Mai. i. 1 1 . 5 Comp. Jfaiah xlv. 6. ** See Jortin's Difc. p. 89. 
 
 {It) Of this number, in all probability, were Jet/jro and his family, 
 among the Midianites, (£a-. xviii. 11.) Naaman and his fervants, a- 
 mong the Syrians [z Kings y, 17.) Hi:aunah the Jebujite {zSfcm.xxiv. 
 
 ^3'/ 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 
 
 lOI 
 
 ■ 
 
 lief of one fuprerne God, (which was as much as 
 was then required) and thereby prepared the 
 minds of men for a more perfect difpenfation * : 
 and might have done this with ftill better fuccefs, 
 had they a6led more conformably to the genius 
 of their own inftitutions and not treated all o- 
 thcrs with fo much pride, and ill-nature, as often 
 rendered themfelves odious, and contemptible to 
 them; efpecially in the latter ages of their go- 
 vernment. 
 
 23.) Hiram king of Tyre, ( i Kings v. 7. 2 Chron. ii. 12.) the queen of 
 Shcba^ Egypt and Ethiopia, (i Kings x.<y. Jofcph. Ant.viii. 2.) In Solo- 
 7non*s time, there were found above an hundred and fifty three thou- 
 fand ftrangers or profelytes in the land, {zChro7i.\\. 17.) without 
 reckoning women and children; (ib. 5^.18.) and in other lands, very 
 probably, might there be as many, by the miraculous converfion of 
 Nebuchadnezzar {DanSu.. 28,29. iv, 34,&:c.) and the other princes 
 above mentioned, {Ej}hcr\\\\. 17.) to which we may add JoJ'ephus*^ 
 remarkable account of the Adiabcnian queen and her fon. (Ant. 
 xxvi, 2.) In our Saviour's time, we read of devout men, ox profelytes^ 
 among the Je^s, of every nation under heaven. {Ads'n. 5.) Befides 
 the Eunuch of Ethiopia, there were Parthians, and Meda, and Ela- 
 mites (or Perfians of the province oi Elymais, Dan.\\\i.2.) and dwell- 
 ers in Mejopota?nia, Cappadccia, Pontus and AJta, Phrygia and Pamphy^ 
 lia, Egypt and Lybia ; Cretes and Arabians, and Itrangers of Ro?ne, 
 {Adsn.g,\o,i\.) See Jenkin, Vol.1, p. 93. or Ear dner's Cred. of G, 
 Hift. B.i. c. 3.fe(^.5. 
 
 * It does not appear, that any of the moft refined philofophers » 
 thofe men of admired knowledge and genius, ever converted fo 
 much as a fingle perfon or village, from their idolatrous fuperfti- 
 tions ; on the contrary, they all meanly fubmitted and conformed 
 to the idolatry eftabliihed in their refpeftive countries^ and exhorted 
 others to do fo too. (See Doddridge on Rorn. i. 2 1 .) Whereas the Jevjs 
 were inftrumental to turn many from idolatry, and to fpread the 
 knowledge of the true God far and wide, in many parts of the Roman 
 Empire, Babylonia, Perjta, l^c. Leland^stinCwcr to Moral, PhiU/.p,^j» 
 Conip. id. Aihant. of the Chrifl. RcL Vol. I. Part i. c. 10. 
 
 This feems to be a proof from y}?.'7 againft the following aflcrtion 
 of Lord BoUngbroke, * Reafon will pronounce, that no people was lefs 
 fit than the Ifraelites, to be chofen for this great truft on every ac- 
 count. They broke the trull continually ; and the miracles that were 
 wrought to preferve it, notwithftanding their apoftacies, would have 
 preferved it at leaft as well all over the world.' Efi'. iii. p. 242. 
 What the influence of philofophy was upon that eflabliflmient of 
 religion in Gmvo (5#c. See Letters on Hutnu'i Hift. B. yi.p. 162, &c. 
 
 G 3 
 
¥ 
 
 102 Oftbe fever al Difpenfatwis 
 
 vernment *. Though this perhaps was hi feme 
 meafure, a natural confequence of that feemingly 
 unfociable fpirit, fo neceflary in them to prevent 
 any intimate connexions, or (which would foon 
 have been the confequence) an entire intercom- 
 munion with the idolatrous religions round them j 
 and might be greatly aggravated by others, on 
 their at length perfifting in a fettled averfion to 
 thofe rites, which they had fufFered fo much for 
 conforming to before. 
 
 Befides, the Jewifti prophets were often dif- 
 patched to foreign countries, to acquaint them 
 with the counfels of the moft High ; and to make 
 them k?tow the Lordf, Jeremiah was ordained a 
 prophet unto the nations + ; who, together with 
 Ifaiah and Ezekiel, prophefied to moft of them. 
 Daniel particularly defcribes the fate of the four 
 monarchies i as was obferved above, ^w^^ pro- 
 claims the judgments of God on^ Syria^ Tyre, 
 Edom, Moah and Ammon. Ohadiab is fent to the 
 Idumeans', Jonah to the people of Nineveh, the 
 metropolis of the A([yrians 5 who ftraightway 
 believe, and repent at his preaching ; which fliews 
 that God was kind to them, as well as to the 
 Jews; and that they had his will in fome mea- 
 fure difcovered to them before; otherwife they 
 would not have been fo capable of underftanding 
 the divine mefiage, when it cam.e to them ; and 
 
 of 
 
 ♦ Vid. Ju'v. Sat. xiv. jf, loo, 105, 10^. Tac. Hill. v. 5. Comp, 
 Wft/ti ^gypt. L. iii. c. 13. fea. 16. &c. 
 f Ezek. XXV. 7,-17, &c. paffim. 
 J Jer. i. 5. Comp. c. xxvii, and i E/dras i. 28. 47. 
 
 of R£vealed Religion . 103 
 
 of behaving themfelves fuitable to it *. In like 
 manner, Nahwn defcribes the final dcftruftion of 
 Nineveh *y and Zephaniah proclaims the divine 
 vengeance on the neighbouring countries of the 
 PhiliJiifieSy of Moab and Ammon ; as well as Ethi^ 
 cpia and A[fyria\. And accordingly, their pro- 
 phets are fought for, and honoured by many of 
 the greateft princes ; who were thereby induced 
 to acknowledge, fear, and reverence the God of 
 heaven, though they did not wholly conform to 
 his will. Thus Elifha is applied to by the kings 
 of SyriaX ; Jeremiah protected by the king of 
 Babylon || ; Daniel honoured, and advanced by the 
 fucceflive rulers of the Chaldeans, Medes and Pfr- 
 fians', as obferved above. 
 
 And thus did this famous people every way 
 conduce to propagate the knowledge and fear of 
 the one true God, in almoft every nation ; either 
 by their profperity, or adverfity^ their conquefts, 
 or captivities § j their feparation from the reft of 
 the nations, or their difperfion among them : by 
 the laws that were given them ; and by the pro- 
 phets, which at various times were raifed up in 
 
 the 
 
 • Vid. EJvjards^z Survey, Sec. p. 296. Buddei Parerg. p. 426. and 
 Lo'vcth on Jonah \\\, 5. 
 
 f *One needs only read their books, to fee that the prophets not 
 only foretold obfcure matters, or what particularly concerned their 
 ftate; but alfo things of a more fplendid nature ; the overthrow of 
 cities, of kingdoms ; the deftruftion of whole nations, the deftrudion 
 of their own city, with its re-ertablilliment. Matters which would 
 render their books very illuftrious, and which would caufe them to 
 be read, not only by the ye^vsy but alfo by the neighbour nations, 
 the Jmmonitcs, Moabitcsy JJJyrians, PerJiaiiSy Egyptians, Sec* Allix\ 
 Refled. B. ii. p. 41. 
 
 X 2 Kings V. and viii. || Jer. xxxix. 1 1, xl. I, S:c, 
 
 S Visit 'viaoribus ieges dtderunt^ fays Seneca of this people. Aug. 
 Vs Civ. D» L, vi. c. II. 
 
 G4 
 

 li! 
 
 104 Of the feveral Difpenfatious 
 
 the midll of them ; proclaiming the power and 
 iuftice of the univerfal Governour of the world ; 
 and foretelling his difpofal both of them, and 
 the neighbouring ftates -, together with the rea- 
 
 Ibns of it *. 
 
 Thus were mankind far from being rejeSled by 
 their Maker, during this ftate of nonage ; though 
 he had his peculiar refidence among the Jeivs, 
 and was their vifible guardian, and direftor. The 
 exprefs terms of his covenant indeed belonged to 
 them, (which as it confifted in temporal things, 
 he was often obliged to interpofe, in order to 
 make good the performance of itf ; and which 
 on that very account could not be a more perfect 
 one) (w) : the real benefits thereof, the heavenly 
 
 Canaan, 
 
 * See the texts In p. 97. Note * + See Bp. Shrl. Difc.v. p.i 50. 
 f.-tt) Vid. Ov/AV Oiat 2. Qiiare nee Mo/a nee philofophi perfec- 
 tam virtutera pra^fcribere potueiint. Pcrfeaionem fanihtat.5 idco 
 Populo ILirJ prxkrihi^re, & ad illam fcquendam eundem acnori- 
 bus ftimulis incitare, Mo/a Dei nomine non potuit ; quod fehcitatem 
 ac mcrcedem, ob quas pietas colendaefftt, teirena: keipublics otio, 
 & eonim tantum bonorum alHuentia terminaret, qua; ad corporis 
 paftun. fpcftant, quorumqne ufus hujus vita; circumicribitur canccl- 
 Ih ; ita r'equireiU'j iftius populi infantia : qumetiam lUamrempubli- 
 cam. in qua pietatis fus fruaum Gens I/nJitica deberct caperc, 
 armis & parare & tueri juberet. Unde f. totam prsceptorum Moja,. 
 tc-um rationem ad ifta tempora accommodatam confideres, ammad- 
 vertes cam ifti pietatis pra;mio apprime fuiffe conlentaneam, &c. 
 CnlL Eth. Chrill. p. ^-,i,Scc. Op. Tom. iv. '-^s 'hey were to con- 
 tinue f.parate from others, for the prcfervation of the true rel.o.cn. 
 thev ftnod in need of temporal promifes, that they might have no 
 tcm'ptation for temporal gain to fall away into the Gentile fupcr- 
 ilitions For fince the Heathen owed all their worldly fuccefles to 
 the worfaio of their idols and falfc gods, there was a neceflity, m 
 proportion, that the God oU/racl (houid Ihew hiinfelf as gracious to 
 fiis votaries, as the falfe gods were fuppoled to be to theirs; and 
 therefore 'tis fo far from being a derogation to this law that ,ta- 
 bounds fo much with the promifes ot temporal bleflings, that it is a 
 particular inftance of the wifdom of it ; fuch promiles being not onl) 
 ino.1 likely to work upon that ftupid low-minded people, but iuited 
 slfo to their particular circumftances andoccafions,as they were to be 
 kept feparate from other nations.' jSarm/'s Bojk'i Lett. p. 543' »"»• 
 
 n< 
 
 1 
 
 of Revealed Relighiir 105 
 
 Canaaii, of which the firft may be conceived as 
 only a type or fliadow *; extended to the people of 
 every nation that feared Gcd, and nvorked right eoiif- 
 nefs ; and he might fix his refidence in Jewry, ^^ 
 being in the midft of the nations f; in order to 
 difpenfe the rays of his fight more equally, and 
 advantageoufly among them ; to whom his cho- 
 fen people probably were defigned to bear a due 
 proportion ; as fome underftand thefe words of 
 Deut. xxxii. 8. He fet the bounds of the people ac- 
 cording to the number of the people c/'Ifrael X- 
 
 We are apt to conceive the Deity is partial in 
 his favours to this people ^ and at the fame time 
 think that they deferved them the leaft of all peo- 
 ple; both which notions perhaps are entirely 
 groundlefs. Their favours, we have feen, were 
 rather favours to the whole world § ; and they 
 only inftruments in the hand of God, to hold 
 
 forth 
 
 ♦ In what fenfe it may be fo conceived, fee LA.Bam'ngton's Eflay 
 on the feveral difpenfations of God to mankind, p. 46, Sec. Comp, 
 Peirce on Colo/, ii. 9, 17. 
 
 t Ezek, V. 5. — xxxviii. (2. Vid. Reland. Palccft, L. i. c. 10. Bu* 
 relL Parallel, p. 1 60. ' They were placed in the center pf the then 
 known world, [upon the borders oi JJta, Europe^ and Jfrica. Taylor 
 on R^m. p. 4] between Egypt and Arabia on the one hand, and Sy- 
 ria, Chaldea, and Affyria on the other; among whom the tirft great 
 kingdoms were ercdcd, and from whence knowledge and learning 
 feem to have been derived to the weftern nations. And they were 
 alfo in the neighbourhood of Sydon and Tyre, the grcateil Empori- 
 urns in the world ; from whence (hips went to all parts, and who 
 planted colonies in the mod diftant countries.' Lelandy Advantage 
 and Neceflity, &c. Vol. I. P^ i. c 19. 
 
 t See7..>^/^,Vol.I.p.49. ^^^^^'/» ^^^\^; ^' ^?f \^'t^^^^ 
 fuf. 5 43. That the :feJs were fpread over all the world about ar./s 
 time! as it is faid,^^.ii. 5. Vid. Jofeph, B. 1. c. 16. ^^^^' ^eg. ad 
 Caj, id. in Flacc. Lardner, Cred. B. i. c. 3. or Bajmge, Hift. B. vi. 
 . . J See Taylor's Key to the Apoflolic Writings. Paraphr. on Ro7n. 
 C. iv. p. 22. 
 
I o6 Of the fever al Dfpenfations 
 
 forth this light to all around them ; whereof other 
 nations were fure to reap the benefit, in due time; 
 whether they themfelves flood faithful to their 
 truft, or fell for violating it. ' Nay their fall in 
 truth, that is their perverfenefs and apoftacies, 
 contributed rather to the fpeedier accomplifliment 
 of this defign, than could well have been expeft- 
 ed even from their fteadinefs. For, to what did 
 their defeftions ultimately tend, but to fupply the 
 Deity with more frequent occafions to exert him- 
 felf in the correction of their predominant errors 
 and vices ? But their errors and vices were the 
 errors and vices of all mankind. And therefore 
 thofe wonderful exertions, which God employed 
 for the reformation of the Jews, were equally 
 adapted to the converfion of the Gentiles among 
 whom they lived. Nor did they fail of their in- 
 tended effect.' * 
 
 Nor perhaps was this wo*rfe than any other 
 nation would have been, in the like circum- 
 fiances. The Canaanites, we know, behaved worfe 
 under all their early advantages, and repeated 
 means of improvement ; as obferved above f y 
 nor could their defcendants, the Carthaginia?is, 
 deferve any better charafter : nor did the more 
 polite and learned nations, Greek and Roman, af- 
 terwards advance above the fame grofs errors in 
 religious worfhip t. Nay, whether the ancient 
 
 He- 
 
 • Dr Owen, B.L. f. i6. I hope the learned author will excufe 
 tny borrowing the above paflage from him, as he has done me the 
 honour of adopting fome of mine, in the courfe of this Leaure. 
 
 t Se?th?s'obf,jrvation explained in Fkury^ Manners of the I/rad^ 
 iteJi c. xxi. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 1 07 
 
 Hebrrjos were not in fome refpecls more particu- 
 larly fit to have the Oracles of God committed to 
 them, has been queried by fuch as obferve their 
 former exaftnefs in fettling their hiflory, where- 
 in all other nations were remarkably deficient : 
 their carefulnefs in diflinguiftiing their genealo- 
 gies; and preferving their records, which was fo 
 beneficial to the refl of the world || : their great 
 tenacioufnefs of all old rites and cufloms ; and 
 their extraordinary zeal in making profelytes §. 
 And though we may allow them to have been, 
 in general, fomewhat flupid and perverfe; yet if 
 we look over their hiilory with any tolerable de- 
 gree of candour, we mufl be convinced that they 
 were very different from the account given of 
 them by fome unfair modern writers *. But 
 the more weak and fottifh this people were of 
 
 them- 
 
 II * It may be obferved, that the facred hiftory is diftinft, metho- 
 dical, and confident throughout; the prophane utterly deficient ia 
 the firft ages, obfcure and full of fidions in the fucceeding ones : and 
 that it is but juft clear and precife in the principal fafls about the 
 time that the facred hiftory ends. [Sec this obfervation confirmed by 
 Patrick on Nehemiah x\\. ii.j So that this correds and regulates 
 that, and renders it intelligible in many inftances, which mull 
 otherwife be given up as utterly inexplicable. —Yet this fame nation, 
 who may not have loft fo much as one year from the creation of the 
 world to the Babylonijh captivity, as foon as they were deprived of 
 the afTiftance of prophets, became moft inaccurate in their methods 
 of keeping time, there being nothing more erroneous than the ac- 
 counts of Joftphus^ and the modern Je^wsy from the time of Cyrus to 
 that q{ Alexander the Great; notwithftanding that all the requifite 
 affiftances might eafily have been borrowed from the neighbouring 
 nations, who now kept regular annals.* Hartlefi Obfervations oa 
 Man, Vol. II. p. ii6. 
 
 $ 'jenkiny Vol. I. p. 91, 93. /. A, Danzii Cura Hebr. in conqui- 
 rendis profel. 
 
 * See the Mora! Philof-pher, Vol. T. p. 225, &c. [with LelantP^ an- 
 fwer. Vol. I. p. 207, IVorthington^ May, p. 105, 106.] ^^BoUng^ 
 broke, paflira. 
 
fI 
 
 I o 8 Of the fever al Difpcnfations 
 
 themfelves, the better was God's great end an- 
 fwered, in diftinguifhing himfelf, and his revela- 
 tions by them; the lefs they did or could do in 
 their own defence, the more ilhiftrious was that 
 very extraordinary providence, which protefted 
 them. And the lefs capable they were of invent- 
 ing the great things contained in their books, the 
 more apparently did thefe point out another au- 
 thor; and prove more inconteftably, that they had 
 fuch communicated to them from above. How- 
 ever, they were, in the hands of God, a certain 
 means of bringing men by degrees to the know- 
 ledge of the truth. They were his '-d^itnejfes. as 
 He himfelf terms them §, that be was God. The 
 firil produ6lion, and original ftate of mankind, 
 the hiilory of the world and its government, ma- 
 nifefted by frequent interpofitions, and exprefs 
 predictions of the moft remarkable events; was 
 neceflary to be known, and well remembered: 
 Memoirs of this therefore were to be fecured 
 fomewhere ; and in fuch a manner as to be of 
 life to all ages. And this the Jews efFefted; be- 
 ing difperfed among all nations, and yet ftill kept 
 a diftincl people ; by which means thefe great 
 truths were both prefcrved pure, and propagated 
 to moft parts of the world. Then* law was a 
 fchoohnajlcr '*, to teach them the rudiments of re- 
 ligion, who were to inftru6l and improve others; 
 it was added to the religion of the patriarchs, be-* 
 caiifeoftraifgref)ions\', i.e. becaufe mankind had 
 
 all 
 
 5 Ifaiah xHIi. 10, 12. 
 • QaU iii. 24. 
 
 f Ibid iiu 9. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 1 09 
 
 almoft univerfally fallen from the patriarchal re- 
 ligion t : or added after the promife, to conclude 
 all under fm §, and put them up unto the faith which 
 Jl:ould afterwards be revealed \\, to convid them of 
 guilt, and convince them of the neceflity of laying 
 liold on thofe terms of grace, which were to be 
 offered in due time. Their whole inftitution was 
 a ftate of difcipline, and Bo?idage under the elements 
 of this world -^-y a fort of fervllc confinement, and 
 tutelary regimen; conducing them by prefent, 
 temporal rewards, and earthly profpefts; afford- 
 ing only a dark, diftant intimation of better 
 things ; and introducing thefe in figurative repre- 
 fentations, types, and emblems : till they, as well 
 as the reft of the v/orld, were got out of their ;;;/- 
 mrity ; able to walk by a more perfe6l rule ; and 
 fit to enter on, and make a proper ufe of their 
 tnherita7ice\ — till th^fuhiefs of the time was comc:--^ 
 which is the next great period we are to confider. 
 From the foregoing account it appears, that 
 God made fuch ample provifion for the inftruc- 
 tion of mankind, by the various difpenfations of 
 his providence, and revelations of his will, at 
 fujidry times and in divers manners, that the miflion 
 of his Son was not much wanted for fome time; 
 neither would his coming have been fo feafonable, 
 or fo fitting, till after thofe other methods had 
 been tried. It was proper tliat the Houfi^oldcr 
 fliould firft fend his feveral fervants to fee after 
 the ftate of his vineyard, and reap tlie fruits of 
 
 his 
 
 i See Mr. Bate*^ Examination of Chubby p. 90, &'C. 
 
 5 Gal, iii. 2z, IJ lb. f. 2j, t Gdl. iv. 3. 
 
Ill 
 
 'IN 
 
 .1 
 
 t' 
 
 J. 
 
 i i; 
 
 J JO Of the federal Difpenfatiom 
 
 his early care and culture in their feafons § : that 
 lower inftitutions fhould precede, and pave the 
 way for this laft, and hlgheft of all. 
 
 The patriarchs had {landing memorials of God's 
 prefence and proteftion, as well as frequent and 
 familiar converfe with him ; affuring them of his 
 favour, and thereby inviting and allunng tliem 
 to his fervice : the laiv was given to his peculiar 
 people by angels {b), in all the appearances of 
 pomp and terror, to aftoni(h and awe them into 
 obedience; the prcpkets were feiit to denounce va- 
 riety of judgments againft their difobedience ; to 
 threaten them with the fevereft plagues on their 
 apoftafy; to promife them proportionable bleffings 
 upon a return to their duty ; and by both means 
 prepare them for, and gradually open to them, 
 the profpea of that great, univerfal Bleffing, the 
 true end and completion of all his promifes, — 
 MESSIAH; in whom were laid up the Jure 
 mercies of David; mercies of a much higher na- 
 ture than any of thofe which they were then ex- 
 peaino-; who (hould procure for them a far more 
 noble and extenfive kingdom, than they had ever 
 dreamt of; fliould make them brethren and fel- 
 low-citizens with all the world here, and fellow- 
 heirs to a more valuable inheritance m the world 
 to come * : Who, notwithftanding their bhnd- 
 
 nefs, 
 
 § W<J//A.xxi. 33. y^r. vii. 25. 
 
 (i) ^<r7jvu. 53. Ga/. iii. 19- Heh.W. 2. 
 
 • « Dufinz thefe circumftanccs-God was picafcd that a law-giver 
 (hould be bfrn among the -Jc.s, of another nature than he whom 
 thev expeaed, and infinitely more ufeful to them. Inflead of a 
 tSpo«l king, who might l/ave iucrcafed their power and renown. 
 
 of Rroealed Religion. ill 
 
 nefs, and perverfnefs, and many tranfgreffions, 
 fhould certainly deliver them from all their ad- 
 verfitles ; and finally reftore them, and all man-' 
 kind, to the favour and full enjoyment of their 
 
 God. 
 
 The doarines he taught, contain a fyftem of 
 the moft agreeable and important truths, (though 
 not delivered in any fyftematic f, artful method, 
 or adapted in any refpeas to vicious palates) giv- 
 ing us the moft worthy, amiable notions of the 
 Deity, and affording the ftrongeft motives to love 
 and obey him ; the greateft incitement to referable 
 our bleffed Saviour himfelf in goodnefs, holinefs, 
 and every virtue of the heavenly life. 
 
 The benefits he conferred, were tlie refcuing 
 us from the power, and redeeming us from the 
 penalty of fin; repairing the breach made in our 
 nature by the firft Adam, and reftoring to us the 
 loft communion with our Maker; not indeed in 
 the fame open, vifible manner as at firft; which 
 is neither neceflary for, nor fuitable to thefe ages 
 
 of 
 
 but would not have leffcned their ignorance, nor their vices ; God 
 fent them a king worthy of him, who taught them how they ought 
 to live here, to be eternally happy after this life: and fhewed them, 
 that, inftcad of being members of a little common-wealth, and ene- 
 mies to the reft of mankind, they ought to look upon the whole 
 world as their native country, and all men as their fellow- citizens : 
 a thought worthy of thofe, who already profeffed to believe, that all 
 men are equally the work of God/ Le Clerc, Caufes of Incred. p. 267. 
 
 f That there is lefs ground to fufpefl them of impofture on this 
 account, and that they are thereby of much greater ufe, fee Leland's 
 anfw. to ChriJ}. as old, 8cc, Vol. II. p. 166, &c. and p. 245, 246. 
 AddC/W/. Refp.ad Q^Tom. II. p 322, Sec, and !)^^9*s Commence- 
 ment Sermon on H£/>. i. i. in which he has confidered the fubjeft 
 more at large, and fhewn particularly, * Why God thought fit to 
 deliver tlie dodrine of our religion and happinefs in the form of a 
 hijioryt rather than in any other method.' 
 
 I 
 
\ ! 
 
 ill 
 
 :i t 
 
 11^ Of the fever al Difpe? fat ions 
 
 of the world ; but by the more fecret, . filent in- 
 fluences of his holy Spirit ; which are equally 
 efficacious {e) if duly attended to, and improved; 
 enabling us to attain unto all that perfection 
 which he requires, or we are capable of, in the 
 prefent Hate ; and thereby cntitUng us to fome 
 higher degree of happinefs, and glory in another. 
 By his own blood he cancels the ongm^lCovenant^ -^ 
 and purchafes a new one full of grace and mercy; 
 freeing us from the whole of Adams curfe, viz. 
 death, or utter extinBiofi-^-, and finally affuring us 
 of a complete victory over both that, and hell J, 
 by the gift of eternal life, and happinefs. This is 
 the true import of the Chriftian inftitution ; and 
 in this fenfe it muft appear to be indeed a gofpely 
 or good tidings of great joy to all people \\ : which 
 
 there- 
 
 {/) SttWollaflon, p. 106. or King, p. 376. 4th Ed. 
 
 ♦ In what fenfe covemints arc underftood, was hinted above, p. 5 1, 
 note i. 
 
 f See p. 51. note *. 
 
 X Rev. XX, 14. 
 
 II In what refpeas Chrillianity exceeded all former inftitutions, 
 may be feen at large in Ed-jjards'^ Survey, p. 3 1 3» S^S- [^^^ efFeds, 
 which it will fome time certainly produce, are well defcribed by Dr. 
 Worthin^ton, EJay on Man's Redtmption, c. 1 1 , &c. who fuppofes, per- 
 haps not on fo good grounds, that thefe will be attainable even in 
 this life. The fubllance of his fchcmc is thus laid down, p. 253.— 
 * My perfuafion is, that our redemption by Chrill will, when it hath 
 its perfea work, be produaive of all thofe great and happy effeas : 
 —That the human nature Hiall, before the end of the gofpcl-age and 
 confummation of all things, be delivered from fm, forrow, and fick- 
 nefs, and all the other miferies and evils of this life, proceeding 
 from the fall of our firft parents, and in the end from death itfclf ; 
 without tafting of which, it fhall be tranflated from an earthly paraw 
 dife, which it Ihall once more enjoy, to an heavenly one, which it 
 Ihall enjoy for ever. And moreover, that all tlie difordcrs of nature 
 i'n general Ihall be reaified, and that there fhall be a redemption of 
 the whole creation to its firll flate, as well as of man, the Lord ot it.' 
 How far this differs from the Hypothcfis of r. Buniety or AjgiV% fa- 
 mous argument y may be fccn in the fame placer 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 1 1 3 
 
 therefore ought to be referved till mankind were 
 able to comprehend, and duly receive fo great a 
 bleffing; till they were fit to make the proper ufe 
 of fuch a fcheme of infinite goodnefs, and philan- 
 thropy. As nothing greater could come after 
 this, and this was to be offered but once for all; 
 (otherwife, as the apoflle fays §, Chrijl mujl of tin 
 have fiiffered fjice the foundation of the world -y often 
 in every country, and as often in vain; his offers 
 of falvation by their cheapnefs flighted, his fuf- 
 feringsdifregarded ;) as no farther manifeftation of 
 God's will could be made to man either in terms 
 more full and exprefs, or in a way more kind, 
 and condefcending ; it was fit that all fuitable 
 provifions fhould be made for the reception, and 
 continuance of it in the world ; all proper pre- 
 parations ufed to fix, and afcertain its evidence; 
 as well as to explain its worth, and make men 
 fenfible of its true ufe and neceflity. To this 
 purpofe the Jews were to be trained up to the 
 expeftation of it by a feries of prophecies, fore- 
 telling the time, place, and every circumflance 
 of the Mejjialos advent; and defcribing the na- 
 ture of his kingdom : their law was to continue 
 till it had' effe61ually guarded them from all kinds 
 of idolatry, and fecured their dependence on the 
 one fupreme God; till they had attained to fuch 
 rational notions of his nature and providence, as 
 qualified them for a more pure and perfect way 
 of worfliipping him ; and enabled them to com- 
 municate it to the reft of the world. The Gen-- 
 
 tiles 
 
 J Heh. ix. 26, 
 
 H 
 
114 Of the feveral Difpenfafms 
 
 tiles were to have fufficient experience both of the 
 weaknefs of their underftanding in fearching after 
 God» and the infirmity of their nature, in not aft- 
 ing up to what they might, and did difcover j fuf- 
 fictcnt to make them wifh and hope for feme hea- 
 venly guide, (to inform them how they came into 
 their prefent ftate of ignorance and imperfedion, 
 and how, and when they (hould be able to get 
 out of it,) which in faft the wifeft of them did; 
 as particularly appears from two remarkable in- 
 ftanccs, in Socrates s difcourfe upon frayer and 
 fncrifice*'; and in Arijlotk's declaration juft before 
 his death, [if the account of it be genuine] con- 
 cerning the reafonablenefs of believing that the 
 gods fliould come down from Heaven, to inftruft 
 and relieve mankind f. Thus was the confciouf- 
 ncfs of their defeds requifite in the heathens, to 
 prepare them for, and difpofe them to embrace a 
 remedy, when it fliould be offered; and the Jcivip 
 oeconomy was equally requifite, to fit tlxm for 
 adminiftering this remedy; the one made its va- 
 
 lue 
 
 • Sec Phu'^ fecond ylkihiade, near the end. More paflagcs to 
 the f..mc purpofe ure colUacd by Dr. 5. Clarke, Eviaeuccs, prop. 7. 
 anJ 3V«»e, Difftrt. Vol. I. 
 
 .P 
 
 t Juaor dt P^mc [de quo vid. Falnh. B.bl. Gr Tom. H- L^»>- 
 p. ,66.] Crl. Rh,d. Ant. L. xvii. 36. rSceiJ.jA's D.a. ^^-^-P'.'^ 
 note 01 Sta,:h Vit. Phil. Concerning the tradition of his l.av.ng 
 convcTfed with a y.,.. fee Gen. DUJ.VoL 1 1, p.267 . ani Pnd. Conn 
 Parti. B.vii. p. 473 and 480. 8th Ed. See alfo a remarkable p.ffiiae 
 lu,M.u, W! Pythng. c. 28. To the obfervat.on above Lord 
 Bdin^hy^h replies, that ' the compla.nt3 and exjpea.^t.ons ot thcle 
 men were founded in proud curiofity and vain prrf.inipf.on. W orks 
 Vol V P. 220. as if it were a piece of vanity and preiumpt on m 
 a„y 'realonaUle creature to be dcfirous of learning what wou.d here 
 n.<:il effc-anallv recommend it to the favour of ,ts creator; and 
 muely pride and idle curiofity, to know wliat would beconK ot U 
 tor ever hereafter '. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. ii^ 
 
 lue better iiiiderftood, the other rendered its evi- 
 dence more inconteftable throughout all ages. 
 No ftronger teftunony, than that of prophecy, 
 could be given, to confirm its truth ; not any 
 greater token of its ufefulnefs, than that which 
 appeared in the miferable ftate of the heathen 
 world v^ithout it ^ both highly contributed to 
 procure Chrijlianity its due regard, and efteem in 
 the world; but neither of them could have taken 
 place, had it been from the beginning; as the 
 objection"^* fuppofes. 
 
 We fee then in general, that fome time mud 
 have preceded the publication of the gofpel ; and 
 we ought to confider, that if it were delayed a 
 ' while longer than we can particularly account 
 for, yet as much as that period may feem to have 
 loft, fo much we of thefe latter ages manifeftly 
 get by the delay; 'tis fo much nearer to us; and 
 thereby its light and evidence more clear at pre- 
 fent; its heat and influence proportionably ftrong- 
 er; all which we have occafion enough for al- 
 ready: and well it is for us that it came fo late, if 
 all its evidence decreafe fo faft by length of time, 
 as thefe very fame objeclors woukl inftnuate y. 
 And how do we know but that it might be de- 
 livered about the middle age of the world; and 
 by that means be neareft to the feveral genera- 
 tions; and the moft juft proportion kept between 
 the length of time, during which Chrijfs future 
 
 advent 
 
 • Pag. 42. 
 
 t ChriJ}. as oUy c 12. p. 163. 8vo. ixQmCrr.ig: of which {^tRo- 
 iherarn*s Difiertation, Edinb. 1743. Phil. Tranf. No. 257. Broughton 
 againll TindaU Fart iii. p, 5, &c. Randolph^ Partii. p. 34, &c. 
 
 H 2 
 
I' 
 
 II 6 Of the fevcral bifpcnfaiions 
 
 advent was to be foretold ami expefted; and that 
 hi which his paft appearance is fo be acknow- 
 ledged, and commemorated ? We are hafty, and 
 fhort-iightcd : our views limited to a few years ^ 
 and we become impatient at feeing any of them 
 pafs over, before the whole plot is unraveled; and 
 would have all brought on the fta:ge at once : but 
 it is far otherwife with the great God, to whom 
 a thoufand years are as one day; who has an im- 
 menfely large progreflivc fcheme, confiding of 
 many underparts,. and intermediate fteps ; all 
 placed in their proper periods, and each rifing 
 upon the paft; and the whole conducted in that 
 regular, gentle manner, w^hich is beft fuited to the 
 moral go\^ernmciit of a w^orld of intelligent free 
 agents, and moft becoming a Being of infinite 
 w^ifdom and goodnefs. ^ ^ . 
 
 But to be more particular. The period in which 
 our Saviour came into the w^orld may be conceiv- 
 ed to be thcfuhiefs of time, and fitteft far fuch a 
 difpenfation, on the following accounts. 
 Firft, as that appeared to w^ant it moft : 
 Secondly, as it was the moft able to receive and 
 propagate it : and. 
 
 Thirdly, as it was the beft qualified to examine 
 its evidence, confirm its truth, and convey it down 
 to future ages. 
 
 Firft, it wanted it moft; and that in reg.ird both 
 to morals , and religion. 
 
 I . That age ftood in the greateft need of a re- 
 formation in morals % as it appears to have been 
 the moft wicked and abandoned of any upon record. 
 
 As 
 
 tf Revealed Religion. 117 
 
 As to the Jewsy we are told, that both their 
 Tnagiftracy, and miniftry were then corrupted to 
 the laft degree; their laws againft: the worft of 
 villains never executed [p) ; their moft facred of- 
 fices, not excepting that of the high prieft:hood, 
 fet to fale; the temple turned into a place of mer- 
 chandife; their priefts made of the loweft of the 
 people, ^nd devoted wholly to intereft, and the 
 loweft kinds of traffick ; the whole nation fplit 
 i,nto fe6ls, and faftions; hating, ^nd perfecuting, 
 and devouring one another *. 
 
 Jn fhort, the account which their own hiftorian 
 gives of them, not long after this time, will be 
 fufficient to determine the point before us, who 
 concludes it viixh this declaration; that if the 
 Romans had delayed taking vengeance on them, 
 he believes their city muft either have been fwal- 
 lowed up by an earthquake, or a deluge, or de- 
 ftroyed by fire from heaven, as Sodom was; fince 
 \\. produced a much more impious generation (r). 
 
 — But 
 
 (/) The lew ftatc of their Sanhedrim about that time, may be feen 
 at large in Lightfoot, Op. Lat. Vol. II. p. 370, 671, &c. Their 
 gradual corruption and degeneracy is obferved by Strabo, L. xvi. p. 
 761,762. Ed. Luf. Par. 1620. 
 
 * See Lightfooti Op. Lat. Vol. II. p. 148, 272, &c. Ediuards*^ Sur- 
 vey, Vol. I. p. 389, &c. Lardner, Cred. of the G. Hill. B. i. c. 5. 
 Benforty Hift. of planting the Chr. Rel, Vol. II. p. 234, &c. Le Clerc^ 
 Proleg. ad Hift. Eccl. fed. i, 2. BafnagCy B. i. c. 5, &c. Whitby^ 
 Neceflity, &c. of Chr, Re^v. c. 2. 
 
 Nor is this at all furprifing, fince the reigning party among them 
 were at that time ^adduces:, Jo/eph, Ant. xviii. 2. Add JVaW^ note 
 en Jas V. 17. 
 
 {'') J^fipf-'^^i B. J. L. xvi. c. 16. Remarkable is the defcription 
 wliich the Talmudijis eive of that generation in which Meifiah 
 ^ould come. Talm. Bab. in Sanhedr. fol. 97. If^hen the fou of Da<vid 
 (omcthy the fynagogue jhall become Jienus \ Galilee focM be dejlroyed, Gablab 
 Jhall be df/olate, and the men of the borders of Jfrad Jl:all go from city tq 
 
 H3 
 
 "it» 
 
I 
 
 I ' . 
 
 1 1 8 Of the frvcrd Difpenfatlcns 
 
 — But tills remarkable vvickcdnefs of the yt-wj will 
 be coniidered, in another refpeft, hereafter. 
 
 Nor were the Gcjitilcs Icfs corrupt, or even 
 capable of being more fo; nor does it feem pof- 
 fible to conceive the generality of them to be funk 
 lower in all kinds of vice and fenfuality, than they 
 were at that time, (notwithftanding all their im- 
 provements in other refpefts;) as may fufficiently 
 appear from the defcription given of them by St. 
 F^iul'^y whofe ^ivitnefs is true, and moil abundantly 
 
 confirmed by their own writers (;•)• 
 
 2. But 
 
 cify, and the ivifdom of the fcrihes Jhall he ahombmted, and rchgkui per- 
 Jo hs Jhall be /corned, and the faces of that generation Jhall be as dogs. V id. 
 Lightf Harm. N. T. p. 326. 
 
 * Rom. i. 21, &c. As to the great and general corruption of the 
 world at this time, more particularly in regard to its private and 
 dojnejiic fituation in the two important articles of marriage, and of 
 fer^vitiidd\ and the very il^ifonable reformation of each by the chrif- 
 tian inllitution, fee Robertfon^ Sermon before the Society in Scotlafid, 
 
 ^755- * 
 
 (j) Seneca de Clem. i. 23. fays, that m the reign of Claudius, in 
 five years, more parricides were condemned and punilhed, than had 
 been known in all the pail ages : A proof of the extreme degeneracy 
 of thofe times. * Eccc Rcmana refpublica, quod non ego primus 
 dico, fed audores eorum undc hicc mercede didicimus tanto ante 
 dixerunt, ante Lhrifti adventum, paulatim mutata, et ex pulcherri- 
 nia atque optima, peflima atque flagitiofjiFima fada eft. Ecce ante 
 Chrifti adventum poft delctam Carihaginem, majorum mores non 
 pauh. :m ut antea^ fed torrentis modo pra.'cipitati; adeojuventus 
 iuxu atque avaritia corrupta eft.' Augujlin. de Civ. D. L ii. c. 19, 
 & id. ib. c. 21. Conf. Sallujl. B. C. ^ateic. L. ii. c i. Sencc. Ep. 7. 
 c,t Dc ira, L ii. c. 8, &c. cum Sueton. Tacit. Par. Arh. paffim. * Si 
 tthnicotum mores paulo ante Chnjjuin et paulo poft intueamur, qu^ 
 fuit docliflima a.*tas, pefnmos et fcelcratiflimos fuifte comperiemus, 
 ut docent qui eorum temporum hiftoriam confcripTcrunt. Bella ci- 
 vilia tempojibus Un.rii, et Sulht \ ftatus reipub, Rnn. perturbatifli- 
 rnus qui-proxime fequutus eft: bella iterum civilia C^f tl Pomp. 
 turn cti m triumvir. Principatus i^i^Aug. et multo magis 7;^. Car 
 lig. Ner. et Dcm. ne ulterius pergam, cloaca: fueruni fiagitiorum et 
 fcelerum apud Romanos; qui tamen Cwv^-cci pafiim quafi fe deteriores 
 oefcribunt. SalL Cic. Sen. Tacit. Suet, aliique, cum a nobis hodie 
 K»runiur, etiaainum indignatiouem in improbos illius cevi homines 
 ^ nobi^ 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 1 1 9 
 
 2, But Secondly, The world at that time more 
 cfpecially wanted a reformation in religion y and 
 was grown weary of all former inftitutions. The 
 Jewifi law had fully anfwered its end, and almoft 
 ceafed of itfelf; the ceremonial part of their 
 oeconomy began rather to be a yoke of fervitudc, 
 and an unnecelfary burden to them ; the moral 
 was in a great meafure loft in their loofe cafuiftry, 
 and vacated bv their traditions (.2;). The fenfe 
 
 of 
 
 nobis movent: ne proferam P^r/ ttjwven. Poetas fatiriccs, qui 
 forte modum excefliffe, in caftigandis moribus fui a-vi, pcfTent. 
 Itaque pravae religionis effedus fijlere mn potuit philoj'ophia, et paucorum 
 contra torrentem nitenttum conatus irriti Jiiere.^ Cler. Prol. Eccl. Hift. 
 fed. 2. c. I. 20. add JVhitby, Neceffity of ChriJ}. Rev. c. 8. Mojhem, 
 de Rebus Chriftianis ante Conjiantinum, c. I. fed. 21. Har-wcody 
 
 Jntrod. to the N. T. c. 2. c^ r j • o 
 
 {z) ^are 'vajiatum ejl forum Bethcne trihus ante Jerufalem annts ? 
 S^ia 'verba fua verbis Legis praeponebant. Gem. Bab. Metz. c. 7. Ex 
 quo multiplicati funt dijcipuli Schammai et Hilldis, — multiplicata funt 
 fchij'mata in Ifraele, etfada cjl Lex, quafi lex duplex. Gemara Sanhe- 
 drim, c. 10. Eorum tum religio, quantumvis fcripturas regulam 
 fuam pronunciarent, traditionibus omnis generis prxcipue niteba- 
 tur ; quas non tantum fcripturis pr^eferebant, fed iifdem omnem 
 fcripturis authoritatem derogabant. Marc. vii. 7, - 9. Tenuerunt 
 Dominum cum Hits contraxiffe faedus juxta legem Traditionis. Baal Tu- 
 rim in Gen. i. 3. Tenebant/r/>/«;w legem deficere comparatam legi non 
 fcriptae. Tanch. fol. 4. Legemque fcriptam ob mercedem doceri pojje, non 
 item non fcriptam. U2:imovi. in Thalm. Torah. Perch. I. Light foot , O^ . 
 Lat. Vol. I. p. 517. Vide plura teftimonia, ibid. Vol. 11. p. 31. or 
 En^. Harm. 236, 237. Comp. BuxtorfT>t abbrev. Heb. p. 226,&c. 
 and Mod. Ft, o^Umv. Hiji. B. xx. c. i. note D. * At thefe times 
 then their fchool-learning was come to the very height, Hillel ^nd 
 Shamai having promoted it to a pitch incomparably tranfcendent 
 above what it had been before ; and accordingly now began the titles 
 o^Rabban and Rabbi [Comp. Matth. xxiii. 7, 8.] Rabbin Simeon the 
 {onofHHlel being the firft prefident of the 5^//^f^/7>« that bare a ti- 
 tle; for till thefe times, their great and learned men had been called 
 only by their bare proper names. So that now in a double feafon- 
 ablenefs doth Chrifi the divine wifdom appear, and fet in amongft 
 them, at twelve years old beginning, and all the time of his mmiftry 
 after, going on to ftiew them their wifdom, folly ; and his ovvn word 
 and dodriiie, the divine oracles of wifdom. In a double feafonable- 
 nefs. 1 fay, when their learning was now come to the height, and 
 when their traditions had to the utmoft made the word of God of no 
 ^ffea.' Lightfost, Harm. N. T. Vol. I. p. 206. id. p. 652. 
 
 H 4 
 
1 2 o Of the fever a! Difpenfations 
 
 of the prophetic writings had been darkened, and 
 debafcd by their corrupt gloflbs ; and the key ot 
 true knowledge at that time taken away, Dy thoie 
 very perfons that (hould have opened the fcnp- 
 turcs, and imparted it to them. - . , 
 
 PhUofonhy had (liewn its utmoft force m the 
 rrreat mafters oi Athens, and Romc^ and was able 
 ?o aftbrd juft light enough to difcover its own 
 errors and defects, and to refer them to a better 
 guides as we have feen above. Its votaries hav- 
 ing been long toffed to and fro, among the varie- 
 ty of fyftems which human wit had invented, 
 were at laft left in abfolute uncertainty ; unable 
 to decide amongft them, and influenced by no^ 
 thing more than fome dark hints of ancient 
 tradition (a) ^ and that became one of its moft 
 ^ flou- 
 
 (a) This appears to have always been the cafe in m^^^^ 
 things which they deliver on the moft important ^J^bjeds as n, / be 
 eafiif dilcerned by the abrupt manner in which ^^^^X ^^^^^^J^, 
 taU Lch fentiments ; by their feldom, '•^^^^^^S.^lVcouaKC -^ from 
 filkntly ; or being able to purfue their "^^"f/;^^:,^^^^ 
 .vhence methinks'any indifferent perfon would ^^^^J^^'Jf;^^^^^^^^^ 
 had never traced fach out by their own realon "^^ ^^^/^ ^^^^^^^ 
 nal difcoverers of them; at leall, I couid '^^^^^^^P/,^^^^,^^^^ 
 Lm hence ; as well as from their frequent ^^^^^[^^^^^^^^^ 
 fome/^W records for them ; and aopeahng to ^y^^J^^J^^^^^ 
 upon fuch fubjeas. I might have fet down ^^'^l^^^^^f. ^^^ 
 that confirm this obfervation, though 1 do not doubt but the ime 
 thin^ has been obferved by many othprs : Ho^vever, i ^fl^^\ 
 out ibme remarkable paffages irom Plato to this purpofe. ^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 yS..r.. U L mL Id. Ib.d. -A o\ ... X.y.r«. /^^O'^^* -^;^- 
 
 o/* Revealed Religion. 1 2 r 
 
 flourifliing fefts which profefled to doubt of 
 every thing : and accordingly, we find the great 
 ornament of this fed, Cieero, declaring on fome 
 of the moft important points, that it was im- 
 poffible to determine on which fide lay (not the 
 certainty, for that they did not pretend to dif- 
 cover; 
 
 «Ta>f, w? a^a TiXft/Jijo-arla sxatrov o Uxth ^ocifxuv u<nn^ ^uvra, elXr^et 
 »To? oiysiv £7ri%£i5£t e*? ^»J Tt»a tottov, c* ^et t«? o-yXXfyiVTa? ^laotxa- 
 <ra|XEP»? £»'? aoa «ro^eveo&a» «. T. X. Ibid. rtoXXo* ^£ i»V» «af»^ Sau^aro* 
 T>j? y>?? TOTTOi, *a» ayT»> «Ti oia, are ocrrj yVo to/J' Wf^* yrj? eJwGoTwi' Xe- 
 yiiv, ft); lyu vvo t»vo? tsiirv^yi^i* K«i o ^'/^ftta?* '=''^? rxvloi, i^n, Xe- 
 ya?, J S6;x^aTe? ; cct^* yap to» t>!? y»;; *a» ayro? fjrcXXa ^^£ a*>jxoa 
 X. T. X. -<^/o/. 5orr. E» ^t av otov aTroor/xijcrat sr^v o -S^avaTOf wfiira^c «; 
 aXKnt TOTTor, xai aX»jG») £r» ra XEyojM^vax. T. X, ibid. Tart ya^ aXX« 
 ly^at/AovErieo* eiV*» o* \xi\, Tuv ivS» ^£ «a» »)^>J tov Xojvof %^oi/e» aeavojo* 
 nVi, £i7r£^ y€ Ta Xr/o^iva aX»:S»J trtf. Phesdruy. iH-vyi rot evexa x?"* 
 <rarT«? Ttf? Xoyy; avwxaj xars; fjuretr^s^ovray tviaKOTrnv el t»? ctjj ^«w» 
 ««» jSga^vTepa ^atverat £9r' aJr*!!' ooo?. Ita /avj fAaTrv <BroXX>ji' aVtrj iea» 
 TpaX"*"' '?°' oXty»!» T« xa» Xna». AXXa ft T»>a •»•») ^or,^£ia.v Ix^iq, tva- 
 Knxouq Av<Ti8 1? T»>o« aXX« CTii^w Xsyjiv airajXj/xvrjcxofAEro;. Ibid. Aito*jy 
 y' j;)(jft> Xsynv ruv vr^urtfuf, To^' aX^jOtf avroi l<retaiv* Id. inTim^ro: 
 Eyu p^cia-u, <BraXaio» a«»)X06;? Xoyop, ^ yea M^o^, Id, de Rep.IO. fin, 
 Ka» b'ro?, (J rXayX6/», f*y9o; lauin xai &x aVwXsTO. Ka* JjfAa; av rw- 
 cnes «'» 'ar£iGa;ftE9a avTu;. From thefe few extrafts any one that can 
 read Piato may judge,' whether by his own confeffion both he and 
 hi«; mailer Socrates did not Sorrow their notions concerning a future J} ate 
 of rewards and punijhments fomewhere ; whether it be fuch a grofs 
 piece oi monk-like fuperflitton ^n^nonfenfe in old Suidas to derive them 
 immediately from \\i^ Egyptians, as the late author of the life of 5o- 
 crates fuppofes, p. 6i. [though he himfelf feems to be of the fame 
 mind with Suidas afterwards, when he fays, this very thing is ob- 
 ferved of all the Grecian Theology, by all ancient authors in general, and 
 agreed to by all moderns, except one, p. izo.] and whether even that 
 other prie/lyconclujion, that thefe two philofophers might be originally 
 beholden to fome revelation for the bell conceptions they had on this 
 moft important point, be blafphemy, and merit all the curious epi- 
 thets with-which this elegant writer has adorned it. 
 
 What reafon there is for fuppofing Plato to have borrowed much 
 from the Hebrews, may be feen in Mtnag. Obf. ad D. Laert. Vol. Jl. 
 L. iii- fea. 6. p. 1 39, Sec. Ed. Meibom. or mtjii ^Egyptiaca, L. 111. 
 
 C. 13. fea. 4, 5,8. , , ^ r u-t r 1,- • %i,i.- 
 
 That the Indians took the fame way of philofophizing with him 
 lipon thefe fubjeas is obferved by 5/r^^o, L.xv. p.7 13. Ed.Pur.1620. 
 
 ''I 
 
122 Of thefeveral Difpenfatiom 
 
 cover; but^ even the greateft probability (f) ; 
 concluding that in all fuch cafes, 'tis much ea- 
 fier for him to fay what is not his opmion, than 
 v^hat is (B). Nay, profeffing that m the grand ar- 
 
 ,,) Haru. fententia.. .0. vera^T. Deus ags vid^n. ^^u, 
 
 (e) Dc Nat. Deer. L. 1. c. 32. Ut'.'^-n "« J'l ^ Notwith- 
 
 poitem. quam ^''"'"^'"'"hich h^lud taW about the immortal.ty 
 llanding all the fine 'Kings which h? '^^'^ '^^^ ,,, feems. to be moil 
 of the%/, or a tuture rtate ; •" ^'f P.T ,,,berc heisthemoft 
 fanguine and p'.litw. of any ; yet >" '^'^fj( ;' ).,■ » all up. and 
 likely to fpeak h.sreal 'h^-SJ;") J^e .oX of a fi"nal ,»>»>■%. 
 having recourfe only to J^-f-^^^'^^^^^ ^,,i, i,oni confequamur 
 L. V, fcp. ult. Ut ho- '^' ^^ '" ^^ debeam»s, propterea quod 
 
 Bt mortem, quam etiam beati contemnerc contemnere 
 
 ruilum fer-flt e£it hahuura, """<= f ^ «^g'' "sed h^c confolatio le- 
 debeamus. fed euam optare. L. vi. Ep- "i- , i^^c enim 
 
 yiseft; illagravior, ^"^ *<=""[P'";X culpa ; et fi non ero, 
 dum e«,, angar ul a re cum -« » -^^^^ ^^ .j confolationem 
 finju ommno caubo id. Ep. '^: J;"; "° -^^^ ^ita:, non ab ea Repub. 
 •'commune tecum eft, f. J^'";°"'„=''' "ferri^«'«^ ■dfine ullo fenju fu- 
 ,vellar, quacar^ndum effedoleam, F^™'^^,; f{t, quam in ipio 
 turumfit. Id ib. Se<i 5um plus in metuendo^^^ 1^^ 
 
 illo quod timetur, d^^""' P.'^^f""'2i""^/-r»L //. Id. Ep. 2i.- 
 „odo dolor nulhis, '"r«'"/"":'':^X7emo5mte; or^fertim .«» 
 Una ratio videtur. quicquid ^^^"^J' f'^ees to the* fame purpofe 
 cmmtm rerun mors fit e.tremum. „¥°^,\f ""^'gV&c- ^d E<i«- ^nd 
 are collefted by »?• '^r'^?' "'V^u Sngenbus author of OWro's 
 among the feveral apologies which the »ngen ^^ ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 lifehfs offered for them, ^l^): rJ;Ki-*'^''»''''#^^^^^^^ 
 natural ; that even here. '« « ^X/tver him. Vol II. P- 56i- 4to, 
 be fuppofed to have^./ /Af ^-^r.ln often in S.e ftateof mind which 
 In truth, C/«r» feems to have been of en m ^= j^, jiUgenter ejus 
 he fo well defcnbes. lufc. ^ L.i. fett. I .W . | ^^j. ^^^^ 
 
 m./.^.] cum librum, qui ell dean mo^ anipli ^q^ ^^^^.^ 
 ^ihil erit. A. Fee. "jehercule et q" ^em Ixp^ > ^^^^^ j ^ ^^ 
 ,„odo, dum lego, aflei^ior: curn polun^br , .^ .,j^^,^^,j^^^_ 
 immortalitate animorumcoeptcog.tare alien, j ^^^ ^^^^ 
 'Phat he hi-d great doubt- of a providence, is lu / 
 
 £ed -'''°'°7f l^asStrreye'inaffliat. Ind had 
 both recommended fu,ade as the be" re.u ^^ ^^^_^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 frequent thoughts of pu.tu>^ it m P^^^^'^^'^'^U he himfelf declare., 
 by the fame wnter, p. 76, 77. 78- '^"^ withheld from it. by the 
 „^n occafion. that he was w h d.ftculty vv,^^^^ .^.^ .^ 
 
 of Revealed Religion . 12-3 
 
 tide of a firft caufe, if he had difcovered the truth, 
 he durft not have divulged it*: and putting 
 the fuppofition as matter of probability, that the 
 Philofophers in general were Atheifts -f . Men 
 began then to be fenfible, that human reafon was 
 of itfelf a very infufficient direftor ; and grew 
 weary X ^^ ^^^^ common delufions from pretended 
 revelation. Oracles, omens, portents, were gene- 
 rally exploded || 5 the old fables of Ekfia?2 fields, 
 and Pluto s kingdom, were grown ridiculous, and 
 given over to poets and painters, as the fame au- 
 thor informs us§. x^nother very learned writer 
 
 of 
 
 of his judgment or his refolution ; to any prudential confiderations 
 refpedling the ftate, himfelf or his relations : fo much as to the fame 
 notorious want of courage, which difabled him from bearing his 
 misfortunes decently, and which muft equally deter him from at- 
 tempting to end them together with his Jife. But to do him juftice, 
 we mull own that he had many good qualities, and that at lafl he 
 died like a man. 
 
 * Nihil autem gigni poffe fine caufis. Atque ilium quidemquafi 
 parentem hujus Univerfitatis invenire difficile : et cum jam invene- 
 ris, indicare in vulgus nefas. De Univerf fedl. 2. 
 
 t In eo autem quod in opinione pofitum eft, hujufmodi funt pro- 
 babilia. — Eos qui Philofophiai dent operam non arbitrari Deos effe. 
 De Inventione, L. i. c. 29. 
 
 X Omnis cognitio multis eft obftrufta difficultatibus, eaque eft et 
 in ipfis rebu-s obCcuritas, et in judiciis noftris infirmitas, ut non fine 
 caufa et doftiffimi et antiquiflimi invenire fe polTe quod cuperent 
 diffifi fmt. Cic. Acad. ii. 3. Mihi autem non modo ad fapientiam 
 cxci videmur, fed ad ea ipfa qua aliqua ex parte cerni videantur, 
 hebetes et obtufi. Id. ap. Lad. L.iii. c. 14, Nefcio quis nos teneat 
 error^ et miferabilis ignoratio veri. Id. ib. More teftimonies to the 
 fame purpofe- may be fcen in Leng% Boyle's Led. fed. 1 2. p. 109,1 10. 
 fol. Cimpbeirs Neccftity of Rev. Leland\ Advantage, &c. Vol. II. 
 
 II C/V. de Div. paflim. JVeJion^ Inquiry into the Rejedion of the 
 Chriftian Miracles, p. 456. 
 
 $ Tufc. Quxft L.i. c. 10, 1 f. Quid negotii eft h«c Poetarum et 
 Pi6\orum portenta convinccre? Quis eft enim tamexcors, quem ifta 
 jnoveant? Comp. Id. ib- c. 16. et Or. pro A. Clucnt. 61. Nifi forte 
 ineptiis ac Fabulis ducirfiur, ut exiftimemus ilium apud inferos 
 Jmpiorum fupplicia perferre, — Quae fi falfa fmt, id quod omnes 
 2 intel- 
 
J2 
 
 Of the fevcral Difpenfatiom 
 of Ihe fame time tells us, that they had near three 
 hundred opmions about the chief good and ulti. 
 mate end of action - that the objeas of the r 
 devotion amounted to thirty thoufandj; hat 
 there were no lefs than three hundred y«/./^m 
 o; fupreme gods, among them^ m fhort that 
 they had multiplied their fcandalous deities to 
 fuch a degree, and modelled their worfh.pm luch 
 a mai^ner, that he, and others of the wifei^and 
 more fober fort, were afliamed of them \V- not to 
 mention thit the prevalence of the Eftcurean 
 philofophy had rendered both, in a great mea- 
 fare, inrignifxcant §. So great want had they of a 
 thorough reformation in matters oi rehgton. 
 
 Secondly, That age was alfo the fitteft to re- 
 ceive fach a benefit, as well as to propagate it in 
 the world. At the fame time that the J^z/Z. 
 CEConomy -umW old, and -^a^ ready to van,p au^y 
 it had fei-ved to build up a better houle , had 
 lifed their minds above itfelf, and fitted them 
 for a more perfeft inftitution; and -hen the eye 
 
 of reafon inV ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 difcovered its own dimnels, ana touiu 
 
 xnore than fl.ew the darknefs that furrounded 
 
 P.l/S/;afrTe?«ntu«'«illifdivu«,. Apoch. V-.sS- 
 
 '■TsefrSrCa-res I Incd p. .66. M,..«. ^^ -^^ 
 <;:i riAianis ante Conltanimum, L. i. c. i . Ictt. z,. 
 
 of Revealed Religion, 1 2 5 
 
 thern^ it then, in the beft manner, prepared 
 them to receive, and rejoice in a greater light. 
 The many fine leftures which had been at feveral 
 times delivered to the Jews, by thofe f tutors and 
 goveniors under whom God had placed them; by 
 Mofes, Jofiua, Samuel, David, Sclcmo;?, and the 
 fubfequent prophets -, though all of them in fact 
 found infufficient to direft their conduft; and 
 raoft of them then, to a great degree, defeated 
 and perverted, as is obferved above ; yet we muft 
 allow, that, towards the end of this difpenfation, 
 they began in general to be better underftood 
 than formerly; upon the erefting of more fyna- 
 gogues, after the Bahylonifl:) captivity*, they were 
 more frequently read and inculcated ; and under 
 their perfecutions, in the time of the Maccabees^ 
 more thoroughly ftudied and regarded; and laftly, 
 by their numerous fchools, and academies, which 
 flourifhed in the moil corrupt parts of their go- 
 vernment -f-, learning of all kinds had fpread it- 
 felf among them, and got fo good footing, as to 
 render them the moft capable of difcerning thefe 
 
 cor- 
 
 • Wdi. Bitddci Hift. Eccl. V. T. Vol. II. pag. 976. Vhringa, de 
 Synag. L. i. Part ii. c. 12. p. 413. or Patrick on 2 Chron. xxxvi. 15, 
 who affigns this as one chief caufe of their keeping fo clear of idola- 
 try ever after, when they had neither prophets nor miracles among 
 them. Add Prid. Vol. I p. 389. 8th Ed. fhat they had fynagogue$ 
 before the captivity, fee Li^htfoot, Harm. p. 609, &c. Le CLrc on. 
 Pf. Ixxiv. 8. and Jennings's Left. B. 2, C. 2. 
 
 t See Fitringa, Obf. Sacr. L. vi. c. 14. fc£l. 8,9. Some of their 
 own authors fay, there were near four hundred fynagogues in jferu- 
 falem itfelf; as many academies ; and the fatne numoer of fchools : 
 fome reckon four hundred and eighty. Buddei Eccl. Hill. Vol. II. 
 Part ii. fedt. 7. •*p.966,&c. Lightfoct, Op. Vol. II. p. 140. and 197. 
 That they afembled in x}\dc Jynagogucs three times a week. vid. id. 
 ib. p. 280. et Sch&etgen. Hor. Heb. in Ad. Apoft, xiii. 42. Comp, 
 Vni'verf^ Wft, B, ii. c,i, p. 26. Note r<^]. 
 
 I 
 
126 Of the fcceral Blfpenptiom 
 
 corruptions ; and recovering themfelves from^the 
 errors and abufes abovementioned ; when they 
 vrere once freely pointed out to them, and oppo- 
 fed- fo that notwithftanding tlie prevai mg ini- 
 qui'ty, which made thefe, in that re peft the worft 
 of tLs, this people had yet been fo f-;^f tivat- 
 ed as to be able to receive the promifcd feed ; at 
 leil much more fo, than they had been at any 
 time aflignable before*. 
 
 The fame thing had been done to die heathen, 
 in a good meafure, and from the fame fource 
 by their great lawgivers, and phdofophers ; who 
 ^ot moft of their beft notions from travelhng 
 bto E^sPt, Chaldaa, and PW«.,themfelves, or 
 Tm cSlwkng with thofe who d.d . ^Kh were 
 Minos, Lycurgus, Solon, Numa, of whom this has 
 been ihein particularly by learned "jenf: fuch 
 was Zoroafter in the eaft, by fome ^-^oU ]o 
 have been fervant to E.r. J. by others to Damelh^ 
 
 t Gak, Court of Gent Part . B^m. - 5'&- f // ^^ J^P^jgcd 
 by the Greeh ,hc„od.es. V>d. ^jfJ'^^^^^U.^ cj.ub. et al. 
 
 \ S: ll^AVfiag ' tl- vol. I. Part i. c. .9. P- 439- -te q. 
 Falfler Amoenitates philolog. c. 9. 
 
 t Hyde, Rel. V. P, c. 24. p. 3J4- p r ,, . He w 
 
 ruppofed to have been 1?,?]""^^V"" o . « j. what ground there 
 is to believe that he clearly Another prophecy, to the 
 
 5/^ Revealed Religion. 1 27 
 
 and fuch was Pythagoras his difciple*. The fame 
 end was purfued by Socrates, and his difciplesf ; 
 who prepared the way for a more perfeft refor- 
 mation, by labouring to bring men to the know- 
 ledge of one fupreme God, and the ftudy of na- 
 tural religion ; by teaching them humility, and 
 giving them hopes of an inftruftor from heaven ; 
 as wa^ obferved above. The fame thing was doing 
 about the fame time, by that celebrated Socrates 
 of the Chijiefe, (as he is called) Confucius J. The 
 fame defign was carried on by that remarkable 
 difperfion of the Jews among all nations, as ob- 
 ferved likewife ; by the communication of their 
 facred books ; which had been long ago tranflat- 
 ed into the moft common language, and many 
 copies of w^hich were in common hands, ready- 
 to 
 
 Vol. II. p. 61 and 75,] Others reckon fix. Vid. Buddd Eccl. Hift. 
 Tom. I. p. 349, &c. What refemblance there is between his hiftory 
 and that of Mo/es, may be feen in Hut. Dem. Ev. Prop. iv. c. 5. 
 Concerning his writings, vid. Fabrk. B* bl. Gr. Lib.i. c 36. p 242,&c. 
 
 * Prid. \ ol. 1. p. 213. Uni-verf. Hijl. Vol. II. p. 236. note Z, &C. 
 Whftus fupra. Jacot de Philofophorum Doftrina, Oxon, 1769. 
 
 t Oper« pretium fuit talem efle Socratem qualis erat, auftorita- 
 temque ejus augeri, ne apud Gr^cos difcrimen omne virtutis et vitu 
 tandem extingueretur, et omnes in nefanda fcelera certatim ruerent ; 
 quod ne fieret obaitere et ipfe Socrates, et pleraeque omnes ilU 
 philofophorum feax, quse ab illo tempore in Graecia ortae funt, atque 
 ex ejus fchola veluti prodierunt. Deinde cum tempus advenit, quo 
 cocleftem plane dodrinam, qua cultus omnis ille fuperftitiofus Eth- 
 nicorum Aiblatus eft, Deus per Chriftum in terras demifit utilem 
 operam veritati philofophia navavit ; ex ea enim Ethnici eruditiores^ 
 cum intelligcre ccepiflent falfas efTe majorum fuorum religiones, 
 multo facilius poftca ad religioncm Chriftianam funt addudi; quam 
 in rem doOi fcriptores Chriftiani, ex ipfius philofophiae arce, arma 
 in Ethnicos nafti funt. Cleric. Silv. Phil, c 3 fea. 7. P- 216- bee 
 an Effay, attempting to fhew, that Socrates was a kind of Prop let to 
 the Gentiles; and divine infpiraiion not confined to the Jevvifh na- 
 tion, and Rev, Ex. lAjith Candour, Vol. III. c 3. ^ 
 
 t Vid. Burmt. Arch. Phil. p. 20. Cleric Silv. Phil. p. 214. He is 
 fuppofed to have been acquainted with the Jewiih religion. See 
 Younz'% Difl^ft. Vol. I. p. 293. 
 
 / 
 
,28 Of llx Ji'Ctrill Dipnfitions 
 
 ,„ be examined*: when at tl.e fame time they 
 
 vere both qualified, and difpofedto «^™- Aj- 
 
 rl; increafe of Rcneral learnins, and phdofo- 
 
 1 wh h muft help greatly to improve ^ 
 
 t^ them. notwit.^a.^'S J "^.^Pf ;f 
 
 r:£n:;:r* ie areienthegeniu, 
 ed; ^^hlcIlnau y communication 
 
 trotretandthX-weretheningJ^P^r- 
 
 Ht airmc ".ftent with that remarkable dege- 
 
 ,1 ro-rnntion mentioned under the 
 
 neraey and ° ™P '°" „f,,„, ;„ common 
 
 rfefr-^pi-f'^^-^^-^'t'T"- 
 
 . U ;. d fDofed to adroit fomc brairches of .t -, 
 ZX in «nderftandn,g ma, be arrived a. vej, 
 ' « nerfeaion when their morals are at a erifis 
 ? fh^lther ex rcmeO on which account they 
 :a«i.tm<"more:'andfuchaiu„a.rema^ 
 
 * 
 
 of Revealed Religion. iig 
 
 be a very proper one to adminifler it, and lay a 
 good foundation for their improvement in both 
 thefe refpecls*. 
 
 Thus were mankind in general trained up, 
 and ripe for a new difpenfation; as well inclined 
 to attend to fomething of that kind, as able in 
 a good meafure to perceive, and reap the benefit 
 of it, when it fhould be offered; their curiofity 
 was raifed, and their capacity fuited to any reli- 
 gious enquiries : nor was it at Athens only, that 
 they fpent their time in telling o?^ hearing fome new 
 thi?tgy fcience and literature had made confiderable 
 progrefs weftward ; and every where men's minds 
 were enlarged, together with their commerce. 
 
 And thus all things confpired to bring the 
 world towards a ftate of MATURITY; and at 
 the fame time, the circumftanccs of it were fuch 
 as remarkably contributed to fpread all kinds of 
 knowledge in the moft expeditious and effec- 
 tual manner. All this while the Roman empire 
 had been growing up to that vaft extent, whicli 
 it reached under Augujim-y and had united the 
 feveral governments under one head; and fet- 
 tled itfelf in a general tranquiUty : it had carried 
 its language, and arts, almoU as far as its arms ; 
 had opened a corrcfpondence, and eftablirhed a 
 commerce, between moft parts of the then 
 known world ; from whence intelligence was 
 quickly conveyed to Ronu\ and orders dilpatclied 
 
 from 
 
 • I leave it to the JLuIgmcnt of the reaJer, whether what is 
 affirmed above bj faying, that a greater degree cf i':ickidnch^ and a 
 greater degree of -uuijdom cvcrftrend the face of the earth at that t^ir% 
 and that they L'jh i^-ere at thz func t'wie univerM \ a? is infinuaicd by 
 a catain author. Letter to Mr. /f%'J'c,'r, p 56. . 
 
 I 
 
 i 1 
 
no Of the fevcral Difpenfations 
 
 f,-om th-acc *. Judea the place where the fun 
 'fH^^^d^ wai to arife, had juft been reduced 
 i :Roman province^, whereby regular accounts 
 wdi-e taken of all remarkable tranfaaions in it, 
 bv the Roman governors |; and appeals lay from 
 thence to Cafar : and by this means the fame of 
 an extraordh'ary teacher of a new religion might 
 be pubhnred, over all the civiUzed parts of he 
 .;jld; and its profeffors be much be«er enab d 
 to advance and propagate it, than could have been 
 expeaed under any other conftitution of the 
 Wd before that timeU: If true, it muft by 
 thefe means foon gain ground and appear to be 
 b- if faUe, as foon be filenced, and confuted _ 
 
 For, Thirdly, this age was the beft qualified 
 to examine the evidence of fuch Revelation; t^ 
 confirm its truth, and convey it down to pofte- 
 Sv It was, in comparifon of thofe before, a 
 Sned, curious, and inquifitive age as we have 
 feeL ; and therefore hke to be more fceptical, and 
 tutU in things of this nature , not lo eafy to 
 
 . The inllUutlonof/.;?. -?r^'^t:Te;bron£e"S£ 
 
 ' ^t ce Lar,..; Crcd. of G. H. B.l. CO. fea^ Jo 
 
 I See an account of their aJl.,^n Pea,jon on ^^l^'^^^^^Ji^ort, 
 
 TlLre is a whole week o the ^^^l.^-^V^o J- 3rV'697. 
 Mr Loch by Gi,e-vu.s ad Sueion, C-^/. lect. ZO. not. p i:, 
 
 which, if genuine, is ^'"•>/=""%^''''- . „ .^jr »'w?.». viz. that 
 „ To which we may add the obferyat.on of Mr «^ J - .^ 
 
 bv"the great extent and -""" ^.'^'it^^^.T'.elie oVwould in>me- 
 ouce became a ,^°"V'=:\;"„*-J"' ^Ahe --rid f as was the call- m 
 
 rve";;.'Si^:whfe-|^iSt^^^^^ 
 
 of Revealed Religmi. 131 
 
 be impofed upon, or apt to run into every religi- 
 ous project. There were men every where ready 
 to confute and expofe the Chrijlian inftitution, 
 had it contained anything either falfe or frivolous ; 
 abfurd, or immoral; if it had confifted of either 
 enthufiafm, or impofturc ; or a mixture of each. 
 At that time the many fe6ls and fa6lions in the 
 world had whetted themfelves by contention, 
 and were perpetual fpies upon each other : fo 
 that no confiderably new religion could gain 
 ground among them, without being thoroughly 
 fifted by the adverfe parties. The Pharijces and 
 Sadducees^ the Stoics and Epicureans^ Vv^ere fubtle 
 and perverfe difputers ; and all of them eager 
 enough to oppofe the Chrijlians. The world had 
 then alfo fufficient knowledge of the powers of 
 nature, to be able to judge of miracles-, and 
 diftinguifli them from any uncommon appear- 
 ance, or efFecl of art (c). Prophecy had been for 
 
 fome 
 
 (c) It is not my defign to enter into the controrerfy about the 
 caufes, why fo many Heathens for a long time paid fo Iktie regard 
 to the Chnftian miracles, though they are allowed to have been com- 
 petent judges of them. I (halfonly obferve here, that numbers were 
 in fad convinced of their reality, and in a great meafure converted 
 by them, as appears from the great Hrefi, which fome of thefe laid 
 on them afterwards in their defences of Chriilianity : and as X.o 
 others, i .They might allow them to be true ; yet on account of the 
 old intercommunity of deirics, and multiplicity of dr:mons, for fome 
 time draw no confequence from them, in prejudice to their own way 
 of worfiiip. 2. Multitudes of the like nature reported among them- 
 felves, might make others at a diftance be looked on as lefs extraor- 
 dinary. s^Thc atheiftic notions prevalent among fome who had the 
 bell opportunity of being fully informed about them, might lead 
 them to rejea. all fuch on principle. 4.Th?ir ufual way of attempt- 
 ing to account for tliefe from fuch an unmeaning caufe as magic j 
 muft, in a great degree, defeat the effcds which they would other- 
 wife have had uporrthem. 5. The numberlefb falfe ones of all kinds 
 propagated over the pagan world, which bi-gaa then to be feen 
 
 1 2 ih rough. 
 
 
1 -^ 2 Of the fcvcral Difpenfutiom 
 
 fome time withdrawn from the Jeivs; which 
 muft make them at firft more iliy, and fufpicious 
 
 of 
 
 trough, and which had jufl brought the whole fyftem >nto dlfre- 
 Pute;V,ght induce them to view all others in the f^-"/ 1'8^'t. and 
 not think any of them worth a ferious examination. Befide the coni- 
 mon preju^lices which oppoied all the gofpel evidences in conjunc- 
 don eaih of thefe reaVons, no doubt, had its weight ,n over- 
 balancing this powerful one particularly, fo far as reafomng was 
 cc ncerned: efpecially the lallf And yet it would be no very difticult 
 th-rng toliewf that tLy reafoned extremely ill upon the point For 
 as the multitude of fabulous miracles reported amonga them could 
 tt no warrant for their dilbelieving thofe ancient, original ones. 
 wrou°l^^ among the /'l'«V,,v/. and Jc.s, (of which their own were 
 TnlyfomaTaukward imitations ;)iut rather on the contrary w.re 
 
 a confirmation of their truth; (lee C.nf,a,rat,o„s, p. 78.) tof-J 
 were far from having any ground fufticient to rejeft or d>iregar«l luch 
 as were undeniably performed in their own "'""• ""'fhem wiS^ 
 ethers of equal authority and importance to confront them wuh . 
 whid, 1 apprehend was very far from being the cafe : though fuch 
 tkl^oZT'^ond.rs might cafily produce a very ftrong prejudice 
 Im a 11 othi wondrousShings, how ^^«-^^^}y J^^'" ^^"J^; 
 ftlnced- and hinder them from attending to this difference of cir- 
 SmiSnces,(.t indeed we find it did with feveral)f.ncea„y mixture 
 of trifline. fpurious, impertinent ones, is ever apt to prejudic. and 
 detraa tVom he true; how far foever this be from any.juaificat.on 
 of ^e abrementioned condua, which a d-. c-e and imparualuy 
 in moft of them might have prevented. This is ali, I apprehend, 
 haTcan be fairly deSuced fro,?; fuch an event ; --\^^h^^^t,l\ 
 Jnrteid of leaJinc us ralhlv to receive or to rejcA all miracles pro 
 m fcucuf^V or hfndering us from ever looking into the foundauon 
 "KUuthoVitrof each ; fhould rather teach us to ^V-y ^ " ff 1 V 
 a'l times to have both of them examined by any hand ; and caretu ly 
 "nde' uou to diitinguifti thefe two kinds from one another in order 
 .r ^rttXnt the like thine happening to lomc even amongft our eh es 
 K^olht'^inbdS, ELAshoId of-th^^^ 
 he has it but by hcarfav. Pollh. Works, Vol. II. p. 2Zi, z^J- 1 ''^ 
 ftme is often repeated by ILone, and well anfwcred by ^''-'^'^^ 
 lol 1 .0. and by MMUlon, Prof. &c. to Let. from Rop P- 8-^' fj- 
 As to the great ^./.vWv of this proof, notwithiland.ng all tho><. 
 bars to its reception, fee>;VA"'s Diflcrtations, p.352,&-c. 
 
 And that very much of the fabulous ^""^^^''^.l^ , "'^^-^Vo ne 
 1 ^ J • rr,/«., riiriaiin writers, down to the fifth, and loine 
 
 Eioohers often give no lefs remarkable and perfedly pa.alkl 
 FiSs of the ioft fenfelefs fuperBi.ion and credulity, mav be 
 ipecimens "' "'^ ,, „• r.y,..,,Aand /A-.«te/Teihmonies. V. 4. 
 
 ;::ffim.'i:f;no:e"pS^^^^^^^ 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 
 
 133 
 
 of any new pretence to infpiration *. Oracles 
 began to ceafe among the Gentiles^ by being dc- 
 
 fpifcd, 
 
 That no real miracle v/as ever worked, either by evil fplrits or evil 
 men, in diredloppofition to a Divine Revelation, is fully proved both 
 from reafon and fcripture, by Mr. Fnrmer in his excellent difierta- 
 tion on that fubjed : who has alfo fairly lliewn, that all the embar- 
 rafment and inconfiflency in the ancient and modern advocates for 
 the truth of Chriftianity is founded on the contrary fuppofnion ; and 
 it feems hard, to conceive how that ingenious writer, v^ho faw (o 
 clearly into the vulgar prejudices on that head, and has contributed 
 fo largely to the removal of them, Ihould be himfelf fo deeply ilill 
 involved in one of the like nature, as to bear tellimony to the ex- 
 iftcnceand confcious operation of human fouls departed; which no- 
 tion of feparate fpirits he (o well proves to have been the ground of 
 all the heathen dacmonology, and all which Daemons he has no lefs 
 clearly ihewn from fcripture to be mere mdlitiei that have neither 
 hfe nor aSlion, that neither know, nor do, nor are any thing real : 
 contenting himfelf (as {hould feem) with the common anfwer to thofe 
 numerous texts, which affirm this total infenfibility and inefficiency 
 o£ all fuch entities in the moft abfolute terms, by confining them 
 to a fenfe merely relati've, viz. that they have no corporeal life or 
 »6lion; which is no great difcovcry, lince it is included in the very 
 fuppoiition of them ; that they kno-iv not any things nor have a thought 
 of any thing which concerns the prejhit I'jorld: though even here it is 
 jiot \tvy eafy to comprehend vvliat could be a more interefting objecl 
 of their contemplation, than the things aded on that theatre where 
 they have borne their part, and for which they are to give a ftricl 
 account; notwithftanding their prefent inability to appear on it 
 any longer ; or while they retain any memory, how they (hould en- 
 tirely forget ever)' circumllance relative to their old manfion, as fome 
 writers feem to allow ; and they might with equal reafon admit what 
 the fcriptures no lefs plainly aflert, viz. that in death there is no re ■ 
 membrance at all, even of God himfelf. But how far this worthy au- 
 thor may be concerned in thefe reflexions, or what way he would 
 take to avoid the foregoing, and like difficulties, were he prefTed 
 with them, 1 (hall not pretend to determine, fince he has been fa 
 brief upon this point, wherein I am forry to be obliged to difFef 
 from him. 
 
 * We may add, that the ceafingof this, gs well as o( jnirachs, for 
 a time, would likewife be a means of raifmg greater furprifo among 
 the Jc-jus upon the revival of both ; and of procuring more attention, 
 and regard to the perfon, who (liould appear really to have the gift 
 of them again. ' Gifts granted to the difciples of our Saviour, which 
 none had been partakers of (ince the time of Malachi -, God having 
 fo ordered it, that the defires of ihtjeivs might be the m.ore inflamed 
 for the Mejjlah^ coming ; as alfo that, upon his coming, he might 
 the more eafily be difcerned.' Jllix, Reflcd. Part iv. p. 272, How 
 
 J 3 far 
 
it 
 
 134. Of (he federal Difpenfations 
 
 fpifed, and generally neglecled ; dhinaiion of all 
 kinds was brought into contempt f : and though 
 they were Oafficiently defirous of fome better light 
 in matters of religion, than what their own rea- 
 fon and philofophy afforded them, as was obferved 
 above ; yet from the many falfe lights, which had 
 been already held forth, and which had only 
 ferved to millead and bewilder them, they mther 
 began to defpair of finding any true one. Tired 
 out with wandering through the mazes of error 
 and uncertainty, the wifeft of them gave up all 
 fuch pretended guides ; and looked upon the whole 
 ftory of revelation as a cheat. Thus men were 
 fufficiently guarded againft any new impofition, 
 though ne-er fo well fupported by wit policy, or 
 leaning. Nor would they, furely, be leis adverfe 
 to one fhat came without all thefe : -■ to one ap- 
 pearing in fuch a form, and with fuch recom- 
 mendadons, as the Cbriftian fcheme j-fo deftitute 
 of aid from human wifdom, and fubtilty; — 10 
 feemingly below what they had hitherto been en- 
 tertained with ; - ftript of all that pomp and or- 
 naiient, which attended the Jeu^tf^ inftitution ; 
 - that art and eloquence, which adorned each 
 fvltem of philofophy ; - confifting of a few plain 
 niles of life, and thefe fo ftriclly pure, and pe^- 
 
 far revelation ceafed from the f,me of M.laM; and what reafon^arc 
 
 X D.bi.m non eft quin h.TC difclplina et ars Augurum evanucnt 
 jam ct vctullate et nc^Iigcntia, Cic, clc Leg. L. n. c. 13. 
 
 135 
 
 of Revealed Religioji . 
 
 feci, as equally to ftiikc at the corrupt Scribe, and 
 haughty PbilGfopher: and therefore fuch as muft 
 needs be to the one, 2ijhimbling block, and to the 
 other, /5i?//,^w^'; — delivered for the mofl part 
 occafionaliy, without any let method; in the 
 moft fimple unaffefted manner; — by mean, ob- 
 fcure perfons; — in full oppofition to all the 
 reigning paffions, prejudices, and interelts of the 
 learned and great *: under all thefe, and the hke 
 difadvantages, which are well known to have at- 
 tended the Chriftian religion in its infancy ; if at 
 fuch a time, and in fuch circumflances, it was 
 able to fupport itfelf, and make its way in the 
 v/orld; and ftill be an im.pofition, both upon the 
 fenfes, and the reafon of mankind; in what a 
 ftraage fituation muft mankind have been, in 
 bot 1 of thefe refpeds ! How different from what 
 they have ever been before, or fmce ! How will 
 ^ the 
 
 ♦ c 
 
 - ' Tis very remarkable concermng all l\t prophecies of the A t-Ti; 
 rel}a7mut, as one intriiific charadcr or mark of the truth and Givme 
 authority of the whole, that whereas impoaors always, and enthu- 
 fi.fts trencrallv, in fettin<r up any r.ew doarines, make it their bun- 
 fine fs to raife'the expeclaiion of their followers, and to flatter their 
 i.na-inations with promlfes of great fuccefs, and of God s mterpoung 
 in fome e> traordinary manner to bring into their hands the power 
 and dominion of this prefent world; our Lord's promiles, on the 
 coirrary, are all of a fpiritual nnture; pro.nifes of a proper reward 
 for virtue in a future and heavenly ilaie; but that at prefent, wliat 
 his true difciples had to expedl was pcrjecufkn and juS-criugs^ ot all 
 kinds. - Nay, what is ftill ^norr remarkable, and more eiieut^ally 
 contrary to the fpirit both of impofiure and cnthuf:alm, he torete.Is 
 the -reiteil, and moft extenfive, and moll lailin- corrupUuns oi Im^ oi'jt. 
 reii^aon/ -► Dr. Clarke, Serm. Ixi. on A/^//. xxiv. 12.. 
 
 This obfervation is a very juft one, and better iounded tnan the 
 propofition which this learned and judicious writer makes the tit.e 
 of his whole difcourfe, 1;/%. That x\ie abcumir^g of ^fpu^ty^sthe c^uje 
 ofhs choundm^ more-, which I apprehend is as far from being uni- 
 /erfallv true tnfacl, as it is from being well fapportcd m the f^id 
 
 Pifcouiie. 
 
 14 
 
136 Of the feirral Difpenfatiom 
 
 th^ men who are fo apt to ftumble, and ftrain at 
 each little difficuhy, which attends the prefent 
 fcheme, in common with all others; be able to 
 cret over this great, unparalleled one, of fuch an 
 Lpofition, [were it one indeed] prevailing fo far, 
 and in fuch a manner as this did ^ ? Or rather, 
 have they not from hence fome reafon to allow 
 of its pretenfions ? Some room to admire with us, 
 how fure muft its foundation be! How ftrong 
 the outward proofs of its divine authority ! How 
 great its inward force and efficacy ! This to a fair 
 enquirer, who will weigh the cafe with any tole- 
 rable impartiality, fliould now afford the fame 
 conviaion that it did of old, and fhew it to be 
 nothing lefs than the power of God, and the ivtfdojn 
 of God. Each of thefe obftacles to its reception, 
 cV.ves the ftrongeft atteftation to it, when once 
 approved of, and embraced 3 and all together 
 muft, when duly attended to, gain it Lhe highelt 
 eikem; and be a ftanding evidence, both of its 
 truth and excellence; a fufficient anfwer to all 
 fufpicions that can be raifcd, from the prevalence 
 of anv fable, or impofture in any other age ; from 
 what may have been introduced in a manner di- 
 -' realy 
 
 • If it b- a orratcr dUnculty to alT.-n r.ny adequate c?m^c of this 
 effca bcfik he reality of that evcntror it the other fuppofuxon be 
 fa certain auihor icrin. i.) ;;/or. minuuhus than that event; then, 
 bv die con cffinn of Scepticilm itself, it ^ouV\ co^nrnarJ cur bebrfor 
 Sw-. A^^^^ ^l-^ ^^his is the cafe here, I apprehend we ^^^7 n-^"- 
 f4n t 11 fome new principle: in human nature be difcov red from 
 wh h A.ch an appearance can be f.lved with greater P'-^^^^^lj^y^^^; 
 ha. been hither ti done. See Philof Eilays concerning Hum. Und. 
 C^ThZ i^cX. 10. But rhe futility of this Author's Principle , 
 a d thf n^ ^i^^is failacv of his conditions on the preient ubjea, 
 have been clearly dcmoaibated by yh.Pr:cc in the lall ot his four 
 iJjirertatiors. 
 
 of Re'-oealed Religion. 1 3 7 
 
 reftly contrary to this 3 by other kinds of perfons ; 
 and in very different times; by policy, or perfe- 
 cution; in days of bigotry, blindnefs, and faper- 
 
 ftition. 
 
 'Tis an obfei-vation frequently infmuated by 
 fuch as are no friends to revelation, that there 
 are certain feafons when any thing will pafs up- 
 on the world, under the notion of rehgionf: 
 which has, no doubt, a good deal of truth in it, 
 with regard to the general belief of things mar- 
 vellous and extraordinary: But from all that is 
 gone before, I think it fufRciently appears, that 
 this age was by no means fuch ; that it can 
 neither be charged with ignorance nor credulity ; 
 that it cannot be fufpefted of any extraordinaiy 
 difpofition to receive fuch a doftrine as that of 
 Chriflianity, and from fuch hands ; were it not 
 manifeftly true, and of divine authority: and 
 that therefore the examination into the grounds 
 thereof, at its firft propagation ; and the full con- 
 vision which each party muft have had, before 
 it would be able to gain admittance with them, 
 might fairly ferve for all fucceeding generations ; 
 and muft be allowed to add one of the ftrongeft 
 confirmations to it. 
 
 Laftly, this age was the beft qualified to hand 
 it down to pofterity. As it w^as an inquifitive, 
 and difcerning one, fo it was no lefs lettered, and 
 hiftorical. The Augujlan age is remarkable to 
 this day for the number of its writers. There is 
 
 none 
 
 f Vcltairis Letters, L. vii. To the fame purpofe arc fome parts 
 in the life 'A Homer, ift Ed. andfevcral pailages in BajW^ Did. and 
 r lie Char aa it I'V.i <7 , 
 
1-8 Of the fever al Dfpenfations 
 
 none better known ; fcarcely any, of which fo 
 full and particular accounts are given. The Ro- 
 man empire had been juft fettled; and the minds 
 of its chief members turned from arms and 
 aaion, to works of genius and fpeculation : 
 fond of celebrating its conquefts, and recording 
 its glory, they gave themfelves up to the ftud; 
 of eloquence, and good writing. Their chrono- 
 logy had been lately reformed, and adjufted; ex- 
 ad reviews were taken of the moft diftant pro- 
 vinces; the number, nimies, employments, qua- 
 lity, eftatcs, of their inhabitants, regiftered (c ) ; 
 and all remarkable afts and occurrences, tranf- 
 mitted to Rome, the capital of the world. In fuch 
 a Itate of affairs, no great event could lie con- 
 cealed, or be long called in queftion : At fuch a 
 time therefore, was it not highly proper to intro- 
 duce this new, furprlfmg fcene upon the ftage of 
 the world; whereby its sera muft be fixed beyond 
 all future controverfy ? Had Cbriji come in an ob- 
 fcure fabulous age, by this time we might per- 
 haps have doubted, whether ever there was any 
 fuch perfon; at lead, whether any thing relatmg 
 to him could be depended on. It was by no 
 means fit, that a thing of this conlbqucnce Ihould 
 be done in a corner, and left to vulgar report, 
 and uncertain tradition; to be foon dropt again; 
 or blended, and difguifed with ficVion, and ro- 
 mance: this therefore commenced in an age of 
 the world, when the copioufnefs and certainty 
 of its hiliory ferved, both to li)read it more uni- 
 
 verfally, 
 
 (.) Sec larJncr'i Credibility, B. ii, c. I. fefl. 2. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 1 3 9 
 
 verfally, and preferve it more fecurely : when many 
 took in hand to fet forth a declaration of thofe things, 
 lohich -Jixre mojifurely believed among them, for the 
 life of both Jews and Getitiles (f) ; whereby we 
 have more ample and authentic memoirs of church 
 hiftoiy, than could ever have been expeded before 
 that period * ; and whereby the time when, the 
 place where, and perfons under whom, the moft 
 material occurrences happened, were afcertained 
 by writers of different nations and profeffions ; 
 by Romans, Jem, and Greeks. 
 
 Thefe feveral circumftances confpire to bring 
 the mifiion of Chrijl very near the time in which 
 he came. There is one more, which feems to fix 
 it precifely to that; at leaft will fhew, that it 
 could not be fooner, confiftently with the com- 
 mon courfe of providence, and moral govern- 
 ment of the world ; admitting likewife the par- 
 ticular fcheme already fpecified, viz. of his de- 
 fending from the Je^vs -, I mean, the circum- 
 ftance of their being then in fubjeftion to the 
 Roman government, fo far as to have the power 
 of life and death, in moft cafes, taken from 
 
 them (d). 
 
 Bv 
 
 (f ) See Dr. Ox'aVs Obfervations on the Gofpels, paj/lm, 
 * This is to be undcrftood with an exxeption to the thirty years 
 between A>. and Tr^^rn to which time all the common comp.amt 
 of wantof ecclefiailical writers ought I think, to be limited f he 
 caufe of this is afligned by Flfr^^ga, Obf. Sacr. Liv. iv. c. 7- [ed 9. 
 p. 904, cVc. Why we have no larger accounts of the J/>o//es, Ice 
 Harfilyy Obf. on Man, Vol. II. p. 121. 
 
 (d) John xviii. 31. How far this was fo, fee lardner, Cred. B. 
 i c. 2, Tea. 5. Part vii. p. 49. ^c. 2d Edit. The particular inftance 
 of St. ^upben\ murder, which is brought to prove the contrary by 
 the authors of Univ. Hijf. [Vol. IV. p. 236. not. R.] does not iecm 
 
 lur- 
 
1 40 of the fever al Dfpenfatiom 
 
 By all that we know of that generation, we 
 have reafon to believe, that if they had been at 
 liberty, they would certainly have cut him off, 
 as foon as ever he appeared to correct their grofs 
 errors, and reprove their many abufes in religion ; 
 to difappoint all their fond hopes of temporal 
 grandeur, wealth, and power; and humble their 
 fpiritual pride, by reducing them to a level with 
 all fuch as feared God, of every nation under hea- 
 ven. And accordingly, when they faw he was not 
 a Mejiah for their purpofe*, we find them imme- 
 diately 
 
 fiifHcient for that purpofe; but rather looks like a tumultuous «^of 
 the zealots, though his trial was begun regularly ; [fee Ba/nage, B. 
 V. c. 2. fed. 8. or Doddridge, Vol. ill. feft. 15. p. 1 10.] and the cafe 
 of St. Paul, mentioned in the fame book, [note O. p. 257.] feems to 
 ihew, not that they pretended to an executive power in his time; but 
 that even theiryW/aW one was fometimes interrupted, to prevent the 
 like outrages. This point feems to be pretty exaftly ftated in Millar's 
 Ch. Hift. c. 7. p. 536. Comp. Ba/nage, ibid. fed. 7. ^ri^JVhitby on 
 John xviii. 31. ox Krehfii Obferv. in N. T. ex Jofepho. p. 64- IS5» 
 &c. One would think, their own judgment of the thing might be 
 inferred from Hierof, Sanhedr. fol. 18. col. i. Traditio ejf, quadra^ 
 ginta annos ante excidium tmpli ablatum fuijfe jus ^itae et mortis, tl lb. 
 Ibl. Z:^Z.' i^adragiiita annis ante 'vajlatum templum ablata funt judicia 
 capitalia ^^ 1 s R a E L E . comp. Allix, J udj^ment of the Je^vijh Church. 
 he. p. 49. Though Lightfoct is of a di^erent opinion, and produces 
 feveral inllances in confirmation of it. [Op. Lit. Vol. II. p. 371. J 
 BrfcQc [Soviets Lea. c. 6.] has made it very probable, that the Jc-wiJ^ 
 magilhates had often, even in thofc times, the power of infiiamg 
 capital puniaiments allowed them ; but yet he grants, that they were 
 often prevented by the Romirn governours; [ib. p. 225.] 'tis plain, 
 their itate was about that time in great confufion; and it appears, 
 that they durll not exert fuch a power, upon the occafion above- 
 mentioned ; nor, in their then circumllances, could at lail have 
 compalTtd our Saviour's death in any regular, judicial way, without 
 application to tl Roman governour; which comes to pretty near the 
 iame thing, with refpedt to the main part of the prefent argument. 
 Comp. />c^^^-. Vol.11, p. 545- 547- 5^5- ^ 1^^' P- 110.345.366. 
 
 * How foon their rulers perceived this, and what a different con- 
 duct it produced at firft in them, and that of the common people, 
 toward him, fee Lard.tr's Cred. Vol. L p. 288, &c. BcnJon\ Liteof 
 Chi ill. c. 8. fed. ,-. p. 280. The difappointment of the latter alfo, 
 
 * on 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 141 
 
 diately refolved to feize and difpatch him; as they 
 would undoubtedly have done, if they had had 
 fufficient power : but being, in a great meafure, 
 deprived of it, they were obliged to have recourfe 
 to ftratagem ; continually laying wait for fome- 
 thing to accufe him of to the Romans -^ tempting 
 him, and trying all methods to draw him into 
 any aft, which might be conftrued treafon, or 
 difaffeftion to their government: on which ac- 
 count alfo we find him behaving with fo much 
 caution, and referve before Lheni; keeping in pri- 
 vate, as much as was poiTible, and confident with 
 the end for which he came ^; charging his difciples 
 not to make him known -f- ; moving from place 
 to place in order to avoid tumults % ; preventing 
 his being proclaimed the MeJJiah\\'y and declining 
 any direft anfwer, when queftioned about it§) till 
 
 he 
 
 on their feeing him given up to the greatell fuffcrings, may fuffici- 
 cntly account tor that remarkable change of their behaviour towards 
 him at laft, as is explained hy Farmer, Enquiry into Chrift*s Tempta- 
 tion in the wildernefs, p. 98. 
 
 * Luke V. 16. John viii. i. xi. 54. 
 f Matt. xii. 16. 
 
 X Sajpe Chriftus fugiebat hominum turbam dum lacum trajiceret, 
 forte ut vitaret omnem tumultus fpeciem, utque obviam iret fedi- 
 tionibus, quas homines rerum novarum cupidi, quos multos tunc 
 temporis in Judaea fui/Te notum ell, potuilTent ejus nomine abutentes 
 concitarc. Si magna hominum imperitorum multitudo diu congre- 
 gata fuiflet, facile contra Romanos, quorum jugum iniquo anlin.> 
 ferebant, moliri ali^uid potuifTer, pr^fertim cum Jefum ti^c Mefliarn 
 credere aut fufpicari coeperant. Maximi autem crat momenti cvan- 
 geho^ exorienti omnes turbas turbarumque vel ipfam fufpicionem 
 vitari; parati enim erant primores Judicorum Chrillum adcufare, 
 apud procuratorem Cxfaris, qui hujufmodi dclationibus accipiendi., 
 jam nimium propenfus erat. Vide hifloriam adminiftrationis Pilati 
 apud Jofcphum. Cleric, in Matt. viii. iS, Comp. infra p. 
 
 II Mark iii. 12. Luke iv. 41. 
 
 § John X. 24. xi. 4, &.C. 
 
142 Of the fever al Difpenfatiom 
 
 he had finiflied the work of his mmiftryi and 
 fulfilled every thing in the Scriptures concerning 
 him (e). No former age of the fcws probably 
 was wicked enough, to have withftood fo many 
 evident proofs of his being the true Mefiah \ to 
 have rejefted him, and been his betrayers^ and 
 murderers \ and thereby to have accompliflied the 
 prophecies, and executed the good purpofeof God, 
 in fending his Son to die for all the world : this 
 
 gene- 
 
 (e) See Locke^ Reafon. of C. p. 487, &c. fol. 3d Ed. \oxLardner, 
 Cred. B. i. c. 5. p. 286.] where may be found a full anfwer to the 
 Mor^/P/:^/7c>/Z?^r*sobfervationonthis fubjeft. Vol. III. p. 189. who 
 concludes, as is ufual, with a very falfe account of the matter, avs;. 
 that * our Saviour all along from iirft to lafl, [vvitnefs Matt, xxvi. 64. 
 Mar. xiv. 62. Luke xxii.70. John xviii. 37.] difclaimed the MelTiah- 
 fhip among them;' 7. e. theytiw. Comp. Whitby on Matt. ix. 30. 
 
 The fame account ferves alfo to confute the obfervation made up- 
 on thefe paflagcs, by the author of Chrijiianity net founded on argu- 
 ment', who from thence infers, that our Lord KiO\x\^ ha^ve no fuch 
 meaning as to convince by his miraculous ^wcrks, p. 48. no fuch intention as 
 to pro've his ciun truth, and character, by thefe inftances of his pcixm', ib. 
 in full contradiflion to thofe many other paflages, where he exprefsly 
 appeals to the fame ^vorks, as direct proofs of his divine commiffion, 
 A/^//. xi. 4, 5,21. 7c/'. V. 36. X. 25,38. xiv. 11. XV. 24,&c. See 
 Randolphs Anfw. p. 169, 170. ^ • a 1 
 
 The fame is likewife a reply to this author*s objeaion againlt the 
 truth of chriftianity, from Chrif^ not opening his commiflion before 
 the Je^'jifl? rulers, [ibid. p. 48, &c.] fo far as he has rcprefented the 
 cafe truly ; for which fee Benfoji's Anfw. Part iii. Dial. iii. p. 196, 
 
 The fame obfervation may be applied, with no lef. force, againft 
 our Saviour's doing the like before the Roman governours, which 
 fluck fo much with WooIJion ; [Exaa Fit?iefs. Pref. Sec] to which we 
 may add, that his addreffing himfelf in f .rm at my time to either of 
 thefe, mull in all probability have been turned to a great objeaion 
 againft the truth of his mifllon in after ages, whether they had, or 
 had not received him; the firft would have been wholly attributed 
 to Hate policy; the latter might have been urged as implying fome 
 extraordinary defect in his credentials: as is well obfervcd by Cla- 
 gctt in the caf.- of his Refurreaion. Polth. Sermons, Vol. I. ferm. I. 
 See alfo Benfon, ib. p. 216, Ic. So that had the whole been con- 
 duaed in a way materially different from what it wa?, the cafe 
 would, as far as* now appears, have been no better for thofe times 
 in which it v/as trmfaitcd; and much worfe for all future ones. 
 
 of Revealed Religion . 143 
 
 generation was fo'thoroughly fuch ^'3 as to have 
 done it with too much fury, and precipitancy ; 
 unlefs reftrained by a fuperior power : which makes 
 their fubjeftionto the Roman government, in this 
 refpe6l alfo, to conftitute the fulness of time; 
 and affords a circumftance particularly requifite, 
 and fuitable to the coming of Chriji. 
 
 And though this very remarkable wlckednefs 
 of the JewSy in fome meafure, counterbalanced 
 all their other qualifications for attending to the 
 ChriJI when he came y and debarred the genera- 
 lity of them from the benefits of his coming ; 
 yet it concurred equally to carry on the fame dc- 
 fign of providence, for the common good of the 
 world: even the vice, and folly of them who 
 were led to rejeft him, contributed to the advant- 
 age and improvement of thofe who had fo much 
 virtue andwifdom left, as to receive him 3 which 
 great numbers of them did -f-, notwithftanding 
 the vile policy of their rulers: and this foon 
 brought on that very thing which they v/ere feek- 
 ing to avoid by it (J), the dliiblution of their 
 ftatc; it having now fully anfwered the ends it 
 was dcfigncd for, as a body politic, gave way to 
 that univerfal fyftemof religion which was to com- 
 port with each political cfrabllfiiment tliroughout 
 the world; and its remains ferved to ftill better 
 purpofcs, in bearing every where fuch evident 
 marks of the divine difpleafure, as could not but 
 
 be 
 
 • Vid. Lightfoot, Op. Lat. 317, 325, kc, 
 f Vid. JiJihtu, Vol, II. c. 5::. p. 497. 
 (J) "J'Jj, xi. 48. 
 
144 Of i^^^ S^'^^^^^^^ Difpenfatlom 
 
 be taken notice of, together with the caufes of 
 their piinifhment (-f ). And thus did tht fall of 
 I/rael become tbe riches of the worldy and rife of a 
 new, greater difpcnfation ; communicated to all 
 nations, and by this means moft effeftually con- 
 firmed in every fucceeding generation : of which 
 below. 
 
 Thus have we confidered fome of the moft re- 
 markable circumftances, attending the age of 
 Christ^s advent; which when they are taken 
 together, make it appear to be the fulnefs of the 
 time, and fitteft for fuch a difpcnfation. 
 
 I have omitted fome topics commonly made 
 ufe of in this argument, fuch as that of an //;;/- 
 'vcrfal peace at that time; and the great expeBation 
 of the Mc/Jiiih, among the Jews-, fince the one aj)- 
 pears to be falfc *, at leaft w^as foreign to his 
 
 birth ; 
 
 (+) * Had the Je^vs been all converted by Jesus Christ, we 
 ihould only have had doubtful witnefles ; and had they been quits 
 deftroyed, we fliould have had none at all/ Pa/call, Thoughts, p. 
 191. Comp. id. p. 89, 90. ' IHos inimicos meos ipfos qui me occi- 
 dcrunt noli tu occidere. Maneat genus y/^^/^^or/^/w; certe vifta cil 
 !L Romams; certe deleta civitas eorum ; non admittuntur ad civita- 
 tem fuam "Judaei^ et tamcn Judaei funt. — Manent cum figno : nee 
 fic vidti funt ut a vicloribus abforberentur. Non fine caufa. ^ Per 
 omnes gentes difperfi funt Judaei teftes inlquitatis fuse et vcritati> 
 noftrae. Ipfi habent Codices dc quibus prophetatus eft Chriftus; et 
 nos tenemus Chriftum. Et fi forte aliquando aliquis Paganus dubi- 
 taverit cum ei dixerimus prophetias de Chrifto, quarumevidentiam 
 obftupefcit, et admirans putaverit a nobis efle confcriptas ; de codi- 
 cibus Judacorum probamus quia hoc totum ante prxdiiSlum eft» 
 Videte quemadmodum de inimicis noftris alios confundimus inimi- 
 cos I Augujl, in Pfal. Iviii. ver. 11. Tom. viii. p. 716. Comp. Id. ia 
 Pfal. xli. et infra note R. p. 
 
 • Sit^MnffonhJani Templum referatum, with Buddt on the fame 
 fubjeft; or Bajnage, Hift. Polit. Eccl. Vol. I. p. 114. or Vitringa ia 
 If. ii. 4. p. 72. 
 
 That the Jenvs had never lefs peace among thcmfclves than at that 
 time, may be fcen in Jojcphusy Phiio, or Vni-vcrf, Ihji, Vol. IV. c, 1 1. 
 p. 196, &c. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 14^ 
 
 birth *; any othcrv/ife than as a good means for 
 conveying the tidings of it more eafily, and fafely 
 through the worlds (in which fenfe it was in- 
 cluded under the fettlement of the Roman empire 1 
 but that is not the fenfe in which it is ufually 
 infifted on :) the other though true-}-, yet was not 
 gratified in the manner in which they did then 
 expedt him, but a quite different one^ whicla 
 therefore, fo far as it was a wrong one, though 
 it helped to raife their attention to Jesus Christ 
 at firft, yet might be faid to tend as much after- 
 wards to deaden and difappoint it. We may add, 
 that though the fews had fufficient ground for 
 expedting fuch a perfon, from their prophetic 
 writings \ and this expeftation of theirs in gene- 
 ral be a good argument againft them now, to 
 prove in what fenfe their forefathers did interpret 
 fome of thefe writings ^ yet was this expedatioii 
 in itfelf (more efpecially perverted as it then was) 
 fo far from being any particular quaUfication of 
 the time, at leaft any circumftance proper to con- 
 firm the truth and credibility of his miffion; that 
 it might as well be fuppofed to have a contrary 
 effeft, in giving a handle to impoftors; as we find 
 it a6lually did to twoTheudafes, to Simeon Athronges^ 
 Judas of Galilee^ Simon Magus y DofitheiisX\ and af- 
 terwards Barcochcbasy and many others j|. 
 
 Nor 
 
 • See Woolfton^% Exafl Fitnefs, &c. p. 91. 
 
 t How far it was fo, together with fome of the caufes and the 
 confequences of it, may be feen in Lightfcot, Vol. I. p. 751, 752, 
 209,"2io, 337. 
 
 X Vid. Origeti contra Celf. L. i. & vi. et Cnhnct. Di6l. 
 
 ]{ W^.Jofiph. B.J. L.ii. c. 2,&c. A Lilt of them may be feen in 
 Kiddtr'^ Dem. Part iii. p, 167, &c. fol. QxlVcgenfaVi^ Confutation of 
 
1 46 ^f the federal Difpcnfafiotn 
 
 Nor have I urged the general notion which pre- 
 vailed over moft of the world y of fome great prince 
 that then v^as to appear j fince this (were it ever 
 fo confiftent with Chriji's real charafter) can only 
 prove that there were fome prophecies, which 
 might be fo interpreted as to give occafion to that 
 rumour*; and the objeftion returns, with equal 
 force, againft its being prefixed to that time by 
 any prophecy : the difficulty is ftill the fame, Why 
 had it not a more early date in prophecy, which 
 might have raifed a proportionably more early 
 expectation ? — But this has been already account- 
 ed for. 
 
 Upon the whole; we may obferve, that from 
 the beginning of the world, mankind have always 
 had fafficient means of being inftrufted in reli- 
 gion 5 and that the feveral difpenfations have all 
 along been fuited to their refpeftive circumftanccs 
 and capacities, fo far as can be learnt from thofe 
 very brief accounts that are left us of their hifto- 
 ry; from which 'tis alfo probable, that if we had 
 more full ones, we fhould fee this more clearly. 
 
 In the INFANT ftate of the world, mankind 
 
 were 
 
 HJJpman, Carm» Memor. (Telaignea Satanae, p. 233, &c.) See alfo 
 JortiH*s Remarks on Eccl. Hift. Vol. III. p.331,— That there would 
 not have been fo many falfe Meffiahs, about that time more particu^ 
 larly, unlefs a true one had been promifed, and on that account ex- 
 peded, fee Bp. Nt^^wton on Prophecies, Vol. 11; p. 266, &c. 
 
 * As to the Sihylline oracles fo much divulged about this time, many 
 of which fecm to have been extrafted from the Jeidjh prophecies 
 concerning t\itMej/:ah\ coming, and might ferve to turn the atten- 
 tion of the world that way, the reader may confult Prid. Con. Vol. 
 UI. P ii. B. ix. fea. 9. p. 633, &c. 8th Ed. Le Clcrc on If. xi. 6. 
 pronounces the whole colledtion of them an impoflure. Id. Ecclef. 
 Hilt. p. 599, &c. Comp. Jonhi, Rem. on E. H. p» 28^, &c. Cavt-p 
 Hiil. L. p. 34. or Fabric) Cod. Apocr. p. 300. 
 
 
 ) I 
 
 rf Revealed Religion. 1 47 
 
 Vv^ere led, as it were, by the hand in matters of 
 teligion; directed by vifible appearances, on every 
 occafion 3 fed with a prefent portion of this world's 
 goods, and cherifhed with temporal profpecls. 
 The doftrines of religion, and modes of worftiip. 
 Were few and plain ^ agreeable to their imperfect 
 notions of things ^ and fuited to their fimplicity 
 of manners * : and when thefe were once taught, 
 and inftituted among fome principal heads of 
 families, they might, through the longevity of 
 men in thofe days, be eafily held, and handed 
 down by tradition. When mankind had multi- 
 phed, and were difperfed over ail the face of the 
 earth; and traditional religion (notwithilanding 
 the frequent revivals of it by particular revela- 
 tions) began to be corrupted, and defaced; and 
 ^s foon as a better way of preferving and propa- 
 gating the notices of it was difcovered -|-, viz, by 
 the invention, or perhaps revelation, of letters (f) ; 
 
 God 
 
 * See Part iii. 
 
 f See Bp. Cony hearers Def. of Rev. Rel. p. 404, &c. 
 
 (f) G^/^ [Court ofthe Gent. p. i. B. i.e. 10. fed. 4.] brings many 
 'tcftimonies, both from Heathen and Chrifiian writers, to prove that 
 M7/?xwas the inventor of letters. See alfo Gen. Di£t. Vol. IV. p. 41 7. 
 C /. Vojfflus Ari (larch, i . 9. and an Efay upon Literature, fro^hg , that 
 the tiAjo tables ^Mritten by the fnger of God in Mount Sinai, ixjas the flrjl 
 nxjriting in the 'u:orld. Lond. 1726. From which author it . -spears, 
 how much letters mult have contributed to prevent the incrcafe of 
 idolatry; at leaft the advancing men into the number of God? ; by 
 preferving a more particular account of all their adions. Comp. L/"- 
 Tii'verf, Hift. p. 720. A\ r. Guffet Com. Ebr, p. 7, 8. and Ddubi"z on 
 Rev. Prelim. Difc. p. 2. &c. Which lafl v/riter fhevvs, that it was 
 as neceifary then to give the Ifraelites letters, to fupply the nfe of their 
 fymbols, and take off their inclination to fymbolica'l idolatry; as it 
 was afterwards to communicate the art oi printing, in order to correct 
 a no lefs grofs idolatry in the Chriftian world, by tranfmitting all 
 ufeful knowledge much more eafilyj and univcrraliy, than could have 
 before ever been done by writing, ib. p,u. *Mofe5,\vho was Ikilled in 
 
 K 2 the 
 
^4^ Of the fever al Bfpcnfathns 
 
 God is pleafed to afford more clear and ample 
 ones; he fmgles out a perfon particularly emi- 
 nent for faith and obedience ; takes him under 
 his immediate proteftion, by way of pofitive co- . 
 venant; communicates himfelf exprefsly to him, 
 and makes him a means of difcovering that know- 
 ledge to other nations ; and reforming the religion 
 of every country into which he was fent. The 
 fame favours are continued to fome of his pofte-. 
 rity, and with the fame dcfign ; they are removed 
 to and fro ; and eveiy where miraculoufly pre- 
 ferved, bleffed, and multiplied; are united under. 
 a theocracy^ and have a ijoritten law given them ; 
 confiding of the moft perfeft rules of life that their 
 then ftate, and temper, would admit of; contain- 
 ing a body of precepts oppofite, in moft parts, to 
 
 the 
 
 the learning of the Egyptians, without doubt underflood their man- 
 ner of writmg ; and if the letters reprefented animals, he muft have 
 compofed a new alphabet, when the law forbad them to make the 
 likenefs of any thing ; that is, we are to fuppofe, of any living crea- 
 ture, or of any of thole luminaries that were worfhipped in the Hea- 
 then world.' 'Pococke'^ Defcription of the Eaft, Vol. 1. p. 228. Comp, 
 Conjedural Obfervations on the Origin and Progrefs of Alphabetic 
 Writing, printed A. D. 1772. Many proofs of God's having com- 
 municated the art of alphabetical writing firft to Mcfe%, as well as- 
 reafons for that conduft, have lately been fet forth by Warthington, 
 Effav, c. 8. But this point feems to be brought to the highelt pro- 
 bability by Winder, Hift. of Knowl. Vol. II. To this may be added 
 a late account of the aur/V/^w mountains mentioned in z. Journal Uom 
 Grand Cairo 10 Mount Sinaiy which, as the learned editor obferves, 
 contain in all probability the ancient hdre'M charaBerx which the 
 Ifraelites, having learned to write it at the time of giving the law 
 from Mount ^inai, improved themfelves with praiftifing on thcle 
 mountains, during their forty years abode in the wildernefs, p. 34. 
 rote {a). Comp. p. 54, &c. et e conir. Hottinger in If'agen/eih p. 43.2- 
 MonUigue, Ph. Tranf. N". vii. for 1766. Vid. etiam E. Bernards Ta- 
 hulam Orhis eruditi Literatur.t a charaftcre Sa?nariiico dedu^a-y c^c. 
 audam a C. Morion, 1759. et e contr. Gill Difl'. concern ng the An- 
 tiquity of the Hebre^v Lang. ^c. p. 88, &c. wlio has made it extreme. 
 ly probable that the Hdre-w wa? the original Language, and tftat 
 vowel points were coeval with it, : 
 
 I 
 
 V 
 
 cf Revealed Religion. * 149 
 
 the fuperftitious and idolatrous praftices of the 
 people round them: they are intrufted. with a 
 hiftory of the original ftate of the world, and all 
 paft difpenfations of religion in it ; together with 
 predictions of the future ^ more efpecially of that 
 great one, under the Mejjiah^ who was to defcend 
 from them; and whom they were taught to ex- 
 pe6l by numberlefs preparatory types ^, and fi- 
 gures 3 all tending to point him out more fully 
 to them; and pave the way for his reception. 
 They become a mighty nation; are diftinguiihed 
 by extraordinary deliverances, fuccefies, and victo- 
 ries under their feveral governours : the fame of 
 them, and of their God f-, fpreads far and wide. 
 
 To 
 
 * Ld. Barrington (after Sykes) feems to reje<5l the notion o? iypes:^ 
 and will have the Jeivifr? difpenfation to be only * fuch a reprclen 
 tation of the gofpel as would fhew the analogy after the gofpel took 
 place, rather than prefigure it before«hand.' Efl'ay on the feveral 
 Difpenfations, &c. p. 46. [which likewife feems to have been the 
 notion of Le Clc/c, Comm. on i Cor. x. 3, 4.] 
 
 But is not this fomewhat prepofterous, afiigning fuch an ufe for 
 it as was in a great meafure unnecefTary, when the more noble in- 
 vitation had in fadl taken place, iticU If ei/jg ^^\jaxen old and ready io 
 'vanijh aiuayP And how fhall vye fee able to reconcile this with the 
 following account of the fame author, p. 69 ? * God afterwards erect- 
 ed this family [pi Abraham] into an earthly kingdom, fo conltituted as 
 to point out a better, and in many proper ways to prepare men, and 
 di/po/e things for the eftablifhment of it.' De Typis V. Glajf, Phil. 
 Sacr. L. ii. Pr. i. Tr. 2. fed. 4. et Selden. Ot. Theolog. de eorundcm 
 ufu et abufu, L. ii. p. 3. Comp. Div. Leg. B. vi. fed. &. Neivt. on 
 the Apoc, c. ii. and BenJon*s excellent DiiTert. Introd, to Suppl. Fa- 
 l-aphr. p. 35, &c. 
 
 f f Hpre we may juftly admire the fingular providence of God, 
 which thus made way for the propagation of knowledge over all 
 the earth. David was God's chofen inftrument for extending the 
 Hebrenxj ftate to its greateft dimenfions. And then, at a time when 
 the nation was in the greateft extent of power and territory, and 
 reached to and verged upon fo many different countries -, fo that 
 more notice would be taken of what pafled in that potent ftate; -». 
 then, I fay, Solomon was raifcd up, and endued with fuch extraordi- 
 
 K3 . nary 
 
1^0 Of the federal Difpenfatioji!: 
 
 To keep them duly attached to his wqrfliip, he 
 ralfes up a fucceffion of prophets, who ceafe not 
 to warn, exhort, and urge them to their duty; to 
 reprove and correft them for their repeated 
 breaches of it; to remind them of their depend- 
 ance on that God, who had already done fo great 
 things for them ; and to affure them of ftill greater, 
 upon their obedience; as alfo to threaten them 
 with the fevereft punifliments, on their defeftion : 
 which always cam.e to pafs accordingly ; and were 
 difpenfed in fo very vifible, and exemplary a man- 
 ner ; as could not but ftrike furprize, and terror 
 into all the nations round them; and plainly 
 enough difcovered him to be, not only a God of 
 the Jews, but the fupreme Governour of the world ; 
 and Lord of Heaven and Earth ; which was the 
 principal end of all; and to effed which, their 
 prophets are often fent to foretel the fate of the 
 neighbouring kingdoms, and to acquaint them 
 with the knowledge of the mod High. This is 
 the great defign, which was ftill carrying on ; and 
 which his own people, though they perverfely op- 
 pofe, and frequently endeavour to crcfs it, are yet 
 
 oblige4 
 
 Xiary talents by God himfelf, to be the inHruraent of this greateft be- 
 nefit to mankind. This prince's confpicuous and fuperlative wif- 
 dom drew the attention of the world; and their curiofity led them 
 into that flourifhing country, where they might, among other enter- 
 taining things, have an ample opportunity of gaining a full know- 
 ledge of LETTE Rs, or alphabetical writing. This was difcovered by 
 di'-vine rs'udation at firft. But as the Hebre^v nation had not been fig- 
 nificant enough, to engage men to much attention to their arts or 
 knowledge, God in his providence thou(>ht fit to raife up thefe two 
 great fucceffive princes into fuch a confpicuous point of light, to be 
 the means of rendering the knowledge of letters more general, 
 and thereby of humanizing and improving all nations in the mod 
 ufeful fcknces.' Windir, Hill, of Knowl. Vol. II. p. 59, 60. 
 
 \ 
 
 € 
 
 of Revealed Religion'. 'i 5 1 
 
 obliged to execute, whether they will or no; and 
 equally promote it by their fuccefles, and their 
 fufterings. They were to be like fo much leaven, 
 in the mafs of mankind ^ and when they were^ 
 once thoroughly prepared themfelves, he dllperfes 
 them among all nations, to difFufe the fame fpirit, 
 and contribute to the improvement, and refor- 
 mation of others : and 'tis obfervable, that the 
 fame long captivity^ which cured moft of them of 
 their great pronenefs to idolatry, ferved alfo to 
 diftribute them over moft parts of the world; and 
 together with them, the knowledge and worfhip 
 of the one true God then firmly imprefled upon 
 their hearts (g)» 
 
 When 
 
 (g) It has been obferved, that the y^wj were removed to Babylon^ 
 when that empire was in its moft flourilhing ftate, and moft fre- 
 quented by philofophers, [Toung's Hift. Di/F.Vol. I. p. 292.] andle- 
 giflators ; who travelled thither from all parts, and thereby in a good 
 meafure became acquainted with xheJeTviJh hiftory ; as many of them 
 are fuppofed to have been. [See the authors above in note f p. '1 26.] 
 And *tis well known, that at the end of this captivity, the greateft 
 part of them, and thofe of the greateft eminence, ftaid behind, and 
 , fettled in Chaldea^ Jffyria, and other eaftern provinces; notvvith- 
 ftanding feveral decrees granted by the kings oi Perfia for their re- 
 turn ; [Pn'd. Part i. B. iii. p. 136, &c. U>:rv» Hiji. B. ii. c. i. p. 5.] 
 from whence *tis probable, that feme of their defcendants fpread fo 
 far as the Eaji Indies^ where their pofterity continues to this day ; as 
 appears from the accounts of many modern travellers. See Hamilton's 
 t<QW account of the Eq/? Indies, Vol. I. p. 321, &c. Edinb. 1727. and 
 Modern part of Uni<v. Hift. B. xviii. c. 7. fedl. 22, note c^ We have 
 a remarkable pafTage to this purpofe related by Bundy, in the preface 
 to his tranflation of Lamy^ Apparatus Biblicus, as follows : * The 
 Kev. Mr. Long, lately returned from Fcrt St. George in the Eaft Imiiesy 
 aftures me, and gives me leave to declare it to the world from him, 
 that the Genious (a people in the Eaft^ wlio from their cuftoms and 
 other circumftances, are by the moft judicious believed to be the 
 defcendants of thofe of the Jewijh ten tribes who never returned from 
 the Babylonijh captivity) have a temple at Chillembrumy near Porto 
 Novo, on the coix^oi Coromar. del, which they call Zuliman\ temple, 
 which they refort to with the fame devotion as xh^jeijos formerly did 
 to that at Jeru/akmi and that it is divided into courts, in the fame 
 
 K 4 manner 
 
152 Of the fever al Bifpen fat ions 
 
 When at length the JewshtaA attahied to fome 
 tolerable fenfe of religion, and were fo well at- 
 tached to it, and confirmed in their hopes of the 
 Mefiah, as to be fit to communicate the fame to 
 the Gentiles ; to whom they were by this time 
 fufficiently known ; and thefe alfo, by what they 
 had heard of the Jewip prophets, and feen of 
 their facred books, together with their own im- 
 provements in philofophy, were able to receive, 
 and rclifh a more perfe6l inftitution ; when both 
 Jew and Gentile, had been prepared to expect a 
 new revelation 5 when they began to want it the 
 inofi: ; and were moft fenfible of their wants ; and 
 therefore like to be the moft difpofed to accept, 
 •and apply the proper remedy : and when the ftate 
 of the world was fuch, as moft of all favoured thq 
 communication ; and helped to fecure the conti- 
 nuance of it : when the dark, fabulous v^ges were 
 well over; and fucceeded by one remarkcibly learn- 
 ed and hiftorical: when arts, and fciences, and 
 commerce, had extended themfelves, together with 
 the Roman empire, and language, over moft parts 
 of the wQrld ; and thereby opened a way for any 
 new difcovery, and enabled mankind, in general, 
 with cafe and expedition to fearch into, and tho- 
 roughly 
 
 manner as Pere Lamfs is, and is built much after the fame plan 
 which is there given.' Comp. Bernier's voyage to Sural, &c. Collec- 
 tion of Voyages, &c. Vol. VIII. p. 237. J . ^,. » 
 
 An acco\int ofjezcs and Jeui^i^ culloms difcovered in Chinas Ben- 
 ^aU and Malaga/car, as alf> in Africa and America both North and 
 South, may be feen in the authors referred to by Jaikin, Vol. 1. c. 
 2 p 104, Sec, and many more in Fabricius, Lux Ev. from c. 32. to 
 .1*^^. j^.^r.nn. V\\^. R.vi. and vii. where we have an ample account 
 
 T.iJ 
 
 I 
 
 of Revealed Religion. ^53 
 
 roughly examine it : and more particularly, when 
 that part of the world which was to be the fcene 
 of all this, had juft been reduced to a Roman pro- 
 vince, and thereby exact accounts were taken of 
 its ftate and inhabitants ; fo that the perfon who 
 was to work this great reformation in religion 
 there, could not be long hid from the reft of the 
 world : when the government of it had likewife 
 been put under fuch a form as was extremely 
 fuitable, and even neceffary to the due exercife, 
 and full execution of his miniftry : in this period 
 of the world Chrijl came; — nor could he, as far 
 as we can fee, have come fo opportunely at any- 
 other. ^ ' 
 Whoever attentively confiders thefe feveral cir- 
 cumftances, though he may not perhaps allow 
 every one of them; yet he will, I believe, find 
 fomething fo remarkable in many ; efpecially in 
 that extraordinary coincidence of fo many ; as 
 may induce hirti to think, that there might be 
 very good reafon for deferring this difpenfation 
 to fo late a period. And though I am very far 
 from imagining this to be the whole of the cafe, 
 or fuppofing that we can difcover all the reafons 
 of it J yet I truft, fo many have been already 
 pointed out, as may ferve to juftify the divine 
 conduvSl in this refpeft : at leaft, I hope, we may 
 be allowed to fay, that there is fomething in 
 them. 
 
 And thus it appears that God has all along 
 acted equally for the good of mankind, in mat- 
 ters of religion 3 though in very different man- 
 
 . ncrs. 
 
154 Of the fever al Difpenfafions 
 
 ners, according to their different circumftances 
 and capacities ; — that his feveral difpenfations 
 have been gradually opened, fo as regularly to 
 rife out of, and improve upon each other; — and 
 that the ftate of knowledge, and perfeftion in the 
 world, has hitherto been increafing. 
 
 The very fame method might be flieurn to be 
 continued under Chrijlianity itfelf ; if it w^ere not 
 too much beyond the fubjccl of this difcourfe. 
 It v^-as in its infancy in Chrijl\ time; who com- 
 municated the things of it to his difciples, by 
 little and little, as they were able to bear them *; 
 beginning with the plaineft, and moft obvious ; 
 laying the foundation, and firft principles of the 
 do<5lrine, during his miniftry, and converfation 
 with them after his refurreftion f ; and leaving 
 the more full opening of it till the defcent of the 
 Holy GkoftX', which likcwife led them gradually 
 into its feveral truths. For fome time the apoflles 
 them.felves were ignorant of Chrift's true office; 
 and the nature of his kingdom. They could not 
 conceive that he was to fuffer, and die for the 
 whole world || ; they expected nothing but a tem- 
 poral 
 
 • Mark iv', 33. Joh. XVI. 12. ' The Chriftian Religion was not 
 properly let up in the world during the life of Chrifl, thouch he was 
 the illullrious'and divine author and founder of it: and the reafon 
 is plain and obvious, viz. becaufe many of the peculiar glories, du- 
 ties, and bleflings of it, as they are defcribed in the Afts, and in the 
 facred Epililes, did really depend upon thofe faas which had no ex- 
 iftence in Chrift's own life time, viz. his death, refurreftion, afcen- 
 fion, and exaltation.' IFcitt^ Harmony of all the Religions which, 
 Gcd ever prefcribed, c. 10. 
 
 •\ ASls i. 3. Luke xxiv. 27, 44. 
 
 I As to the Faa, fee Bp. Gib/on' s 2^^ Paft. Let. fea. 3, 4, and 6. 
 per the reafons of it, fee iVlifc. Sac. Eff. i. p. 157, &c, 
 
 II Matth. xvi, 22. Luke xviii, 31, 34. 
 
 1 
 
 ff Revealed Religion. i^$ 
 
 poral prince * ; and thought that his kingdom 
 was to be confined to a remnant of the Jews f ♦ 
 Even after the defcent of the Holy Ghojl, St. Peter 
 wants a particular revelation to convince him 
 that the Gentiles were likewife to be admitted % • 
 the difciples with him are aftoniflied, that on them 
 alfo was poured out the gift of the Holy^ Ghojl |I ; 
 and others of the brethren contend with him about 
 it § ; and afterwards prevail on him to diflemble 
 it **. Many yet infifted on the point of circumci^ 
 Jion [X)y and moft of them concluded that chrijlia- 
 nity y and the world itfelf, would fpeedily come to 
 
 an end-f-f-. 
 
 And though a much larger and more compre- 
 henfive view of the whole fcheme was given by 
 Chrijl himfelf, after his afcenfion, to St. PaulXX^ 
 that chofen veffel ; who was endowed with greater 
 accompli fliments, and a larger ftock of learnings 
 and who laboured more abundantly than they 
 
 alf; 
 
 * Matth. XX. 2 1 , &C, 
 
 t Acls i. 6. and c. x. The ufe of this may be feen InDiv^. Leg* 
 Vol. II. B. iv. fea. 6. 
 
 X Ads X. 6, &c. xi. 5, &c. V. Ben/on^ Eff. on Infplration, Pa- 
 raphr. p. 319. 
 
 II Acls X. 45, 
 
 5 ASls xi. 2. 
 
 ** Gal. ii. 1 1, 13. 
 
 {I) A8s XV. I, 5. 
 
 ft See Burnet, de Stat. Mort. et RdT. c. 7. p. 145, &c. Clarke^ 
 Serm. 21. on Job. xxi. 22. 
 
 n Gal' i. 16, &c. See Mifc. Sacr. Eff. ii. p. 40, &c. and Locke*s 
 Synopf. to Comm. oviEphef. 
 
 Concerning the propriety of chufing this apoflleat that time, fee 
 Locke^ Reafonablenefs, p. 508. Works, Vol. 11. 2d Ed. 
 
 What is meant by his gofpelj and that it was not con trad i£lory to 
 what the other apoflles had delivered, as is fo frequently affirmed by 
 Morgan and BoUngbroke^ fee Locke on Rom» xvi. 25. with Whitby on 
 CaL i. 7. 
 
^ 5^ O/" the fever al Dtfpenfations 
 
 all*; yet perhaps it may "be queftioned, whether 
 he alfo was not left in fome degree of uncertainty 
 about this laft point (h), to which the Axja-voriroc, 
 in feveral of his writings, taken notice of by St. 
 Peter, [2 Ep. iii. 16.] are with great probability 
 fuppofed to relate -f. 
 
 In this refpeft, the Chrijlian inftitution may be 
 faid to have been but in its childhood, even under 
 the apoftles. We find it for fome time mixed 
 with Judaifm % s and fubjeft to carnal ordinances ; 
 
 the 
 
 * 1 Cor. XV. 10. 
 
 (h) Comp. Rom. xiii. 1 1. Locke, ib. [contr. Taylor in loc. p 352.] 
 iCor. i. 7. andxv. qi. 2 Cor. v. 2,3,4. and 1 Thejf. iv. 15, i6» I7* 
 with Grotiusy and WaWs note on the lail place. Add Grot. Append, 
 ad Comm. de Antich. Op. Tom. J V. p. 475. Loivtb on Infpir. p, 
 2Z?. 2il Ed. or Benjou's Append, to Paraphr. on i Tim, v. 23, &c. 
 Whifton on Re^v, Cor. 2. [coi^tr. mjifby^ 2d I^i^c. after 2 Ep. TheJf.} 
 and note /x. p. . Since, as our Saviour has declared, of that day 
 and that hour kno^wthno man, we have the lefs reafon to be furprifed^ 
 if its coming be fpokenof indillmcUy, and on fome occdions repre- 
 iented in general terms as being near at hand to all. 
 
 But if this notion feems too harfh, the thing may be folved other- 
 wife more eafily, upon a fuppofition that the time of each man's 
 death is, in refpedl of himfelf really contgmus to that of his refur- 
 reaion. — A dodrinc which not only St. Paul, but two other apoftles 
 alfo, St. lames and St. Peiet, K^m to have taught very exprefsly, and 
 which appears to deferve a little more attention than is ufually given 
 to it. This point is very well proved by Taylor, ib. p. 354, 355, 
 though he there feems to have declined entering into t\it ground 0% 
 it. For which, fee the laft difcourfe here annexed. 
 
 f Vid. Mill. Proleg. paflim, ttWhithy in 2 Pet in. 16. 
 
 % Tndulgendum et dandum quid erat ingenio Legi Mofaica et 
 Inftitutis s'ynagogarum aflueto, donee tandem quidam ad altiorem 
 dedufti *etatem fponte hos apparatus morefque defcrerent. Bohmcr^ 
 jle cxtraord. prim. Ecel. StV-u. Ed. z, Diff. xii. p. 420. 
 
 Ratio nafcentis Ecclefiae non permifit, ut eodem moment© omnia 
 <mendarentur quae Scholis Judxorum accepta referenda, &c. Id. ib. 
 
 ^' See Edward's Survey, p. 598, &c. ' As to their outward way of 
 living, they conformed themfelves to the reft of the Jt'u^s, obferye^ 
 all the ceremonies of the law, even to the offering of/7fr/>^ ; which 
 they continued to do as long as the temple was Handing. And this 
 is, what phe fathers called, giving, the fynagogue an honourable in- 
 
 '%] 
 
 of Revealed Religion. i ^J 
 
 the apoftles of the circumcifion feem not yet to 
 have any diftinft knowledge of the general free- 
 dom from the ceremonial law * : St.PWis forced 
 to conceal his preaching to idolatrous Ge?itilesy for 
 feveral years f 5 a diftinftion of days J, of meats 
 and drinks II, and other legal ceremonies §, are 
 obferved, to gratify the Jewip converts 5 and avoid 
 o-iving offence to the weaker brethren * * : they, 
 
 are 
 
 terment.' Aug. Ep. 19. Fleury, Mariners of the chriftians, p*3T. 
 Nay, fifteen bifliops oijerufnlem in fucceflion were circumcifed, till, 
 the deftruaion of it \}iXiAtr Adrian, according to Eu/ebiKs, Eccl. H. 
 L.iv. C.5. Comp. 5«^//.5ti;fr.L. ii. p.142. Elz. Turn Hierofolyma: 
 non nifi ex circumcifione habebat ecclefia facerdotem, &c. ^ But by 
 this Emperor's treatment of the Je-ivs, their whole conftitution civil 
 and ecclefiaftical was effedually diflblved. See note <^ p. 
 
 • Aas xxi. 26. See Ben/on, Hift. of firft planting Chriftianity^ 
 Vol. II. p. 209. where the reafons of this gradual difcovery are af- 
 figned. Add his Eflay concerning the aboliftiing of the ceremonial 
 law annexed to the parapl^rafe on Titus. Or IVatt\ Harmony of all 
 the Religions prefcribcd by God, c. 1 1. 
 
 + Gal. ii. 2. See Pref. to Mifc. Sacr. p. 15, 26, Sec. Ben/on, Hift. 
 Vol. n. fea. 3. Doddridge fuppofes that the point here concealed, 
 was the exemption, not of the Gentile Converts only, but of the Je-ws 
 themfelves, from the obfervance of the Uofaic ceremonies, as what 
 they were no longer bound to under the Gojpel, any farther than as 
 the peace and edification of others were concerned. See Vol. v. fedt. 
 3 , note d, and other places there referred to. 
 
 X ^t?/ xiii, 14. xvi. 13. Coin. 16. 
 
 II Rom. xiv. 3. I Cor. viii. 13. 5 ASs xvi. 3. 
 
 ** F. Spanbemium in Diatrib. de rit. quibufd. Tom. II. Op. p.go^. 
 Sedulo obfcrvafTe animadverti plura txjudaicd difciplind in Apojhli- 
 cam Eccleftam introdufta efle ex Chrifti vel Apoftolorum praxifet 6b- 
 fervantia, Q^w7i\\(\\i7iVi\fi7iemandato ; aut fi mandati in modum, non talis 
 tamen, quod, ut ait Spanhemius, omjies Chriftiancsfemperetinperpctuum 
 ohjlrin^erct', fed quod duntaxat infirmorum, ritibus Judaicis penitus 
 immerforum, gratia retentum eft. Hac quippc prudentia agebant 
 Apoftoli ut in his externis moribus fe facile componerent ad infirmi- 
 tatem converforum, turn Q^Judais, tum ex Gentilibus, prout difertis 
 fatetur verbis Paulus. Bohfncr de Extraord. prim. Eccl. Stat. Diftl 
 xii. p. 529. The fame judicious author colleds from Spanhem xx 
 inflances of this, concluding with that famous decree mentioned ir> 
 t;jie next note. Denique hinc etiam referri pofTunt qu?e Apoftoli 
 ex Lege Moifs m gratiam zelotarum ad tenipus adh\ic obfervanda 
 conftitucrunt. A^. xv. 20, 
 
I j8 Of the fever al Difpenfafions 
 
 are obliged to comply with fuch in the toleratioii 
 of many things burdenfome to the flefh, and un- 
 profitable as pertaining to the confcience; and 
 the obfervance of feme is judged neceffary to be 
 enjoined, or at leaft recommended to certain pro- 
 felytes, by a public decree *, which has been ge-. 
 nerally infilled on for many ages, after all the 
 ends and ufes of it ceafed. 
 
 The many miracles, and extraordinary gifts 
 of the Spirit, which attended the church at that 
 time, were no lefs eminent figns of its weaknefs ; 
 which flood in need of all thefe interpofitions f > 
 than the frequent appearance oi Angeh was, un- 
 der the former adminiftrations : Whereas after- 
 wards, in its more confirmed and fettled ftate^ 
 thefe helps % became unneceflTary ; the natural and 
 ordinary evidence, the regular and ftated methods 
 of inftruftion, being abundantly fufficient. The 
 fame obfervation might be confirmed from the 
 frequent mifapplication of thefe very gifts, fo as 
 to occafion tumults j and confufion in the public 
 aflembly, (with reverence I fpeak it) even in the 
 midft of that plentiful efl:ufion of the Spirit § j 
 
 in- 
 
 • Asis XV. 28, 29. See BenfotJy H'lft. of planting Chriftianity, Vol. 
 II. p. 56. where the bed account feems to be given of that decree, 
 fromthe \f^ and 18^*^ of Le'vit, See alio Mifc. Sacr. EfF. iv. and 
 Doddridge, Vol. III. p. 234, 240. Comp. lardner\ Remarks on 
 Ward's Diflertations, c. 7. and Boivyer's Apoftolical Decree. 
 
 f Edijcards^s Survey, p. 600, 606, &c. add HUkes's Spirit of En- 
 thufiafm exorcifed, p. 27,-— 30. The particular occafion there was 
 for each, may be feen in Mifc. Sacr. EIT. i. p. 153, &c. 
 
 X AvT»X^>I/tK, 1 Cor, xii. 28. parallel to this, and explanatory of 
 it is A^SX'X., 35. avTiXa/x^avec^a* tuv a^ivHiru:v. V/hat thefe helps 
 were, and what ncceffity there was for them in the church, fee Ben/on^ 
 ib. c. I. fe^l. 6. p. 72. or Mifcellanca Sacrcty EiT. i. p. 58, &c. 
 
 § I Cor, xiv. See Div. Leg. Vol. II. B. iv. fcifl. 6. 
 
 cf Revealed Religion. 1 59 
 
 xnfomuch that they fometimes came together not 
 for the better but for the worfe *. Even in thofe 
 days, the my/lery of iniquity began to workf; 
 many faftions, and fchifms arofe ; many tares 
 were fovvn, together with the good feed, and 
 often fprang up with it, and choaked it. No 
 fooner had chrijlianity got well rid of the yoke of 
 the JewifD law, than it was corrupted with Jewifj 
 fables t, and traditions. The Gentile converts were 
 Vome time in laying afide their old errors, and fu- 
 perftitions || ; and afterwards introduced an im- 
 pure mixture of their philofophy § ; this foon pro- 
 duced innumerable fe6ls, and herefies\ which take 
 upthegreateft part of the hifl:ory of thofe times**, 
 and gave rife to the multitude of filly fpurious 
 books that then abounded and gained credit ff. 
 Inftead of attending to the plain, popular fenfe 
 of fcripture, they fly to fanciful allegories:}: J; raife 
 
 * 1 Cor, xi. 17. 
 
 t 2 rhejf. ii. 7. 3 Ep. Joh, IX. Jude xii. V. Bohiner de extracrd, 
 prim. Eccl. Stat. DifT. xii. § 18, 
 
 X See Bafnage, Hill of the J^xux, B. iii. c. 22. 
 II See Bingham'' s Antiq. B. xvi. c. (;. 
 
 5 See Bibl. Univerf. Tom. x. et Cleric Epift. Crit. ir. 148, kc. 
 cum Mojhem. Comm. de turbata per Plaicnicos ecclefia, in vers. 
 Cudworth, Syil. Vid. id. de rebus Chiift. ante Conft. M. S«c. i. 
 fed. 62. et Siuc. ii. fea. 25, 33, 34, &c. 
 
 •* See a fummary account of it in Le Clerc^ Ep. Crit. iv. 
 
 tfV. FabricH Cod. Apocr. N. T. or Joms\ New method of 
 fettling the Canon. 
 
 XI *Hunc (fell. Phihnem) haud itamulto poll culpabiliaffeflatlonc 
 fequati funt patres et fcriptores ecclefiaftici, ram fuam quam le6to- 
 rum operam kidentes : five quod is omnium primus ani.otata in fa- 
 cram fcripturam tentaret, five potius quod Fhtlonem primo in hufic 
 modum fcribentem repererint : Certum fane eft eum ehrrfiianis fcrip- 
 toribus diu plurimtrm arrififle; quorum nonnuUi eum adeo ad 
 amuffim imitari anibiebant, ut iacra volumina, alioquin in fe perfpi- 
 cua, fccdc obfcurarint, obduftaque a^egoriarum fuarum fuligire 
 minus fincera praibuerint.* Lightfoot^ Q"^, Tom. II. p. 848, Comp, 
 Cleric, Hiersn, Q^z, P.4U 
 
1 6o Of the fever al Dijpenfatlons 
 
 a number of myfteries ; and maintain continual 
 oppofition offcience, faljly fo called. For under all 
 their fhew of fcience, not much foUdity, or real 
 knowledge ; not much true learning is to be met 
 with : nor indeed had they much room to culti- 
 vate it in thofe times. 
 
 And though the whole fcheme of our re- 
 demption was completely delivered, and all its 
 effential parts recorded, during the extraordinary 
 afliftance and infpedion of the Holy Gbojl; and 
 in fome refpedts the primitive chrijlians feem to 
 have the advantage of others ; as being better ac- 
 quainted with the ftile in which it was wrote > and 
 fome apoftolical traditions, which gave light to 
 it*: yet it by no means follows, that the true 
 genius, import, and extent of this revelation, 
 muft be as well underftood by the generality of 
 them, as it could be by any that came after them. 
 What our Saviour faid of Jobt the Baptift, that 
 the leaf in the kuigdom of heaven nvas greater than 
 he; greater in his knowledge of tlie nature, and 
 
 con- 
 
 • Whkh yet is but of very little weight, as may be feen in Le 
 ClercEp Crh. iv. p. 146, &c. Bp. Taylor, Lib. of Prophefy, fcft. 5.. 
 N , or ^7,4, Diff. de S. Scrip. Int. paflim. « Sunt equ.dcm qu. 
 totiunt patres: eo quod N. Teftamenti fcriptorrbu.s prop.ores effent, 
 [joneos magis fuiffl fenfas fcriptur^ judices. five "^erpretes ; quod 
 tamen falfiffimum effc expcricntia duce compertum eft. Ex tnum 
 enim primorum feculoruL fcriptoribus baud P=!"".-" ^oc opere 
 interpretamenta congeffimus ab omnl ventatis fpecie alicna. Oftend- 
 "nt nob s patrum patroni unicam fcripturx pencopen, quse alias 
 ^bfcura cu^effet, fb iis fit lucem mutuata. Hoc autem admiranda 
 ?-ei DrovTdeniia contigiffe cxillimo. neex humanojudiao divinarum 
 Jcrtpu rarum authoritfs penderet. Nifi enim cxper.enua, fc,enti=? 
 nSa, compertum eflbt patres primxvos et apoftolis prop.ores, 
 h\ud mtnus quam c^teri. ca^Ypitafle; pronum effet propter infigncm 
 eorum Pieta^em et dona quorundam fpiritualia eorum vettigtis 
 
 naitTiri:";m*,.ib.lipil'p. 346. That .>,ch 7W«/.« were not 
 long preferved by the church. Id Pref. Pile. p. 40» 4'- 
 
 f 
 
 of Revealed Religicn. 1 6 1 
 
 conftitution of that kingdom : the fame may be 
 faid of common chiifiians in that period; many 
 of lefs merit, and lower abiUtics, but living in a 
 more enlightened age, might eafily prove equal, 
 if not fuperior to them, in what may be called 
 the theory, or fpeculative part, of their religion ; 
 with regard to which only, I would always be 
 
 underftood (I). 
 
 The 
 
 (I) What has been here faid, may be fuppofed to contradict an 
 eftabli(hed rule of interpreting fcripture, which is laid down by an 
 approved writer in the following words : viz. ^That ixje Jhould ha^ve 
 an efpecial regard to the pradice and u/age of the firji and pureji ages of 
 the churchy and thofe that ^<vere nearefi the times of the apojiles.'* The 
 reafon afligned is, * Becaufe the primitive Chriftians had better ad- 
 vantages of knowing the mind of the Apoflles, and the fenfe of their 
 writings, merely by living fo near the Apoftolic age, than the great- 
 eft induftry or learning can furnifh us with, that live at this diltance. 
 And to fuppofe that the Chriftians who lived in thofe early days, 
 would either carelefsly lay afide, or wilfully deviate from t]:e rules 
 and orders which the Apoftles gave to the church by the direction 
 of God's fpirit, is a great refledion upon the providence of God and 
 his care of the church ; — and upon the memory of thofe glorious 
 confefTors and witnefTes to chriftianity, who planted the gofpel with 
 their preaching, and watered it with their blood, and on \yhofe 
 credit and teftimony the authority of the fcripture-canon itfelf does 
 very much depend. So much reafon is there for our paying a due 
 deference to the judgmeut and pradlice of the primitive Church in 
 doubts relating to the writings and inftitutions of the Apoftles.* 
 Zoau//^'s Direaions, p. 63, 64,6^. This isin fome meafure juft; and 
 when the cafe is fairly ftated, what has been delivered, 1 hope, will 
 not appear fo contrary to it as may be apprehended, t own, the rule 
 and reafon holds in fome degree, as well in matters of belief, as 
 praaice; but then I think, it fliould in the firft cafe be reftrained to 
 matters, which thofe, who had a divine authority, exprefsly declar- 
 ed and determined to be fuch ; and of the latter kind, fuch likcvvife 
 as they have enjoined as of perpetual necefTity, (which may be found 
 perhaps to be much fewer than we ufually imagine;) and not ex- 
 tended to every tliiiig which fuch perfons permitted, or approved, 
 or even complied with themfelves ; fmce fuch things might be very 
 tolerable and expedient, and even neceffary for the then time snd 
 ftate of Chriftianity ; yet afterwards ceafmg to be (oy vanifti of them- 
 felves ; or become liable to be dropt, or done away, in other a^es, 
 which would admit, and probably might require different inftitu- 
 tions. Manv inftanceb of this have often been aliedgcd by writers on 
 
 L the 
 
l62 
 
 Ofthefeveral Difpenfations 
 
 The plain fundamental doftrines, and rules of 
 life were then, no doubt, (as they have always 
 
 been ) 
 
 t4ie conti-overted points both of church-government and difclpllney 
 rites, canons, &c. which need not here be mentioned. Allowing then 
 their full merit to the glorious company of confefTors, faints, martyr?, 
 &c. and a precedence in certain refpeds to the mod primitive times ; 
 allowing that they bell knew the ufages and orders of the Apoftles, 
 and mort faithful lyobferved and copied them ; yetthefe very.prai^^ices 
 and orders too might not be ©f abfolute neceflity, (becaufe not re- 
 giftered in their epiftles;) and confequently that knowledge be but 
 of very little confequence, nor comparable in other refpe^ls to that 
 which we enjoy : nor will it be any refleflion on the pro^jidence of 
 Gody or his care cf the Churchy if thefe iirft conftitutions (hould be 
 altered, and the grounds of them forgot ; nay, there would rather 
 be more room for making fuch a refledion, were we obliged to con- 
 form now-a-days in all points to the ftate and ufage of the church in 
 thofe times, which fo very few have proper means of underftanc- 
 ing; and when they do thoroughly underftand them, will fee how 
 much the different parts of it have varied from each other in fome 
 points ; and of how little weight many others are, wherein they all 
 have for fome time agreed. Nor can I apprehend but that each, 
 church has ftill a right to judge of the occafions, the end, and im- 
 portance of fuch, and to determine for itfalf accordingly, as to its 
 go<vernment and ordinances ; notwithftanding any deference due to the 
 judgment and praSiice of the primiti'ue Church : wherever we are allow- 
 ed this liberty by the ApolHes and infpired perfons, and left under 
 fuch general directions only as syo-^rftoya;? ;:afcX!3;Ta Ta|t>, i Cor.xiv. 
 40. Nay, when we are enjoined to ufe^that freedom of judgment 
 in deriding upon thefe, as well as matters of much greater confe- 
 f] ence, Phil. i. 10. iv.8. i John'iv. i. Stt Jberfiethy^s excellent Dif- 
 courfe on RotJi, xiv. 5. Tracts, &c. p. 2c:o. 
 
 What a diiTerent face the church rcaJfy primitive wore,, from that 
 which (he put on in a few generations afterwards ; and how many 
 eiirly alterations were made every where in ecclcfialtical matters, 
 merely upon human authority, may be fecn at large in Boehmer\ 
 Diflertations^ and his Jus EccV. Prot. pafHm : an author well worth 
 the perufmg, and who, though he wrote above forty years ago, yet 
 it-ems to be known to veiy few amongft us. One would have hoped- 
 this catholic dodline oi church authority in fixing the fenfe of fcrip- 
 ture, fliould have vanifhcd by this time, as it has been fo thoroughly 
 t-A'pofed in all its (hapcs by a variety of truly protelVnnt writers^ 
 both of our own and other communions, about the beginning of the 
 prcfent century. 1 fhall cite a paflage from one of them, vv^ho feems 
 to be almoil forgot, but well defervcs a new edition. * Afier all, there 
 is no fuch agreement as is pretended, among fathers or councils, in 
 the interpretation of particular texts. I defire to know, where that 
 general and uninieyruptul fenfe of the chriftian church about things hard 
 ie be undcrfoody is to be found? Are there not v::rious and different 
 
 ^ inter- 
 
 \* 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 163 
 
 been) well knov/n ; and thefe they took good 
 care to a6l up to; and deferve this character. 
 
 th 
 
 at 
 
 interpretations among the Hithers and iirft writers ? Did they inter- 
 pret every text the fame way ? or were their interpret^ions always 
 the mod reafonable and judicious ? or not fometimes very weak and 
 abfurd.^ Don't they often differ, not only from one another^ but fome- 
 times from thenfelues, at different times, and in different parts of 
 their writings.? And how can we depend upon the general fenfe of 
 the tirll writers, when that has been fo various and diverfe, and 
 there is no fuch thing as ^ general and uninterrupted fenfe to be found 
 among them? — I am forry — ihould advance fuch a notion at this 
 time of day, when the wifeft men every where are beginning to 
 quit the fearch of facred truth from the writings of the fathers, and 
 feekingitin the fcriptures themfelves. I add, where they are agreed 
 together in the fenfe of fcripture, 'tis not their authority y but their 
 reafon which ought to govern.' Occafional Paper for the years 1716- 
 17-18. Vol. III. No. 4, Let. ii. p. 14, 15. See alfo an excellent 
 pamphlet entitled Irenicum Magnum, Printed A.D. 1700. 
 
 To what has been faid above, give me leave to add the teflimony 
 of an eminent writer, whofe affeftion to the church is moll unquef- 
 tionable, and whofe authority with many will have the greateil 
 weight.^ 'There is not, it may be, a greater obftrudicn in the in- 
 veftigatioh of truth, or the improvement of knowledge, than the too 
 fupine relignation of our underflanding to antiquity ; to v/hat was 
 fuppofed long fmce to be done, or what was thought or known to 
 be the opinion of fome men who lived fo many ages before us : I 
 fay, fuppofed to be done ; becaufe we are fo totally ignorant of all 
 that was originally done from that time that deferves the name of 
 antiquity, that we know nothing of what was done in ancient times, 
 but by the telHmony of thofe men who lived fo many hundred, nay, 
 thoufand years after the perfons lived, or the things were done, of 
 which they give us the account. So that we were in a very ill con- 
 dition, if it any way concerned us to know what was faid or done 
 in thofe times, of which we have fo dark and obfcure, at leaft very 
 quellionable, relation and information given to us. And as we are 
 liable to be mifled in the forming our praftice or judgment by the 
 rules and meafures of antiquity, with reference to the civil and 
 politic actions of our lives ; fo antiquity will be as blind a guide to 
 us in matters of pradice or opinion relating to religion, otherwife 
 than as that antiquity is manifeft to us in the Bible i which as it is 
 the moll ancient record we have of any kind, of what was faid or 
 done in the world from the beginning thereof, fo it informs us fuf- 
 ficiently of all that we are obliged to think or do; and whatfoever is 
 too hard for us there to underlland, is in no degree neceffary for us 
 to know ; and yet we may lawfully endeavour to inform ourfelvcs of 
 what is difficult there, though we may be deceived in our inquiry; 
 becaufe there is no penalty upon being deceived. The cuftom is (o 
 univerfal, amongft thofe who wreftle to fupport the flrength of 
 
 L 2 everv 
 
^64 Of the feveral Difpenfatlom 
 
 that they lived much better than they reafoned (K), 
 Though perhaps even thus much can only be 
 affirmed of them in the very primitive times > 
 during the extraordinary afliftance of the holy 
 
 Spirit : 
 
 tx^ry opinion i.n religion, to appeal to thejudgniCTt arvd the prac 
 tice of X\,tpnmttiye times, that ftandfrs-by are apt to believe that 
 every one of the litigants knows very well where to find the judee 
 
 1 A^A / ^P^^.""^' ,' f""^ >'^^ ^^^'■^ ^''^^ "e^«r a"y difficulty recon- 
 ciled and determined l>y that judicatory : nor in truth do tlie appel- 
 hints well underiland what themfelves mean by the appeal iJhev 
 make ; nor would have reafon to acquiefce in the ji^dgment. if they 
 could receive it by agreeing upon it.» Ld. CLAKEiNDON, of the 
 Reverence due to Antiquity, EiTays, p. 218. Sec more from the 
 Jame author below in note (l). 
 
 (K) See leCkrc^^ Eccl. Hift. of the two firft Cent, pa^m, and 
 Ep. Crit. et Eccl Ep.iv. Boehmeri Di/fert. Jur. Eccl. ant. Difs. xii. 
 p. 528, &C. from hazranzen,Chry/oJ}ow, Salvian, &c. Ld. Clarefidcn'^ 
 E%'s, p.2 18, &c.C^Ws Defence of Mod. Nonccn. Part i. p. , u. 
 
 ^-^ r- ;> — v"**» • ^' *«^t-«;77i s rree i^iic. on i ruth and 
 
 Error, c.7. or his Remains ; at the end of P^^troloaia p. 14 c. is a cata- 
 logue of authors that have freely cenfured the/..//„v^^. To which we 
 mav add moll of the foreign proteftant divines, who fecm to have no 
 fuch high notions of their authority, as fome among us ufed to en 
 tertain. i he learned MoJ^em, fpeaking of Hickes's oppofition to Cud 
 yrths notion of the Lord's Supper, fays, Qiiod autem opponat ei 
 ftihil fere habef pnTtcr novitatem et diflcnfionem rcntiquoruni dodo- 
 rum quos/^/rr. nomirant: in quo argumcnro firmitatcm dudum 
 yin fapientes et cruditi dclidefarunt. infinita enim repudianda no- 
 bis forent, quit fine controverfia vera funt, f, ad hanc exigenda 
 eflent normam. Pr^f. Cud^^ verf. not. Cc^n. Dom. Comp. id^nft. 
 Hii>. Chnrt. Ant. S.tc. 11. Par 11. c.3, fc^ 10. et Sysc iv c : (e^\ 
 
 to the times in which they lived, and that thofe were much inferior 
 to our own in this refpea ; which is aH that J am here concerned 
 ^""'^•^ '• 7^r' '\ ^^^\'t P- 5°S. add /)../.tv//, Diir. in Inn. Pref. 
 ct Dim 1. Hotton s Refleaions, c. 29. p. 399, ,^c. zd Ed. IVaterland^ 
 Importance, c. 7. Let thefo lowing jull apology of the honeft writer 
 abovementioftcd, kix^ for all that is or may be faid upon the prefent 
 iubjca. Ace ut carpa^nus <veteres, aut conUmptui cxp.namus, a nobis h<cc 
 dtcuntur ; fed ut hijicnar legit us pareamus, quci- nihil dij/fmulari patiuntur 
 nea-e nimia auaoritas tis tnbiiatur ; qua temere admija, inania multa quafi 
 religionis chnjlinn.i' dogmata propcmwtur; quod iis qui religionem diuinuus 
 re'velutam amanty patt nefc.i ^?, Cler. JJijl. Eccl. p. 534. 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 165 
 
 Spir'it : and Yhilft the original evidence was 
 clear, and cogent ; and its impreffions ftrong 
 and lively upon them * ; while they believed 
 that the world was juft at an end j however, like 
 to end fbon with themfelves, by reafon of the 
 many dangers and diftreffes to which they were 
 daily expofed: from which extraordinary cafes, 
 we are not to form our notions of the ftate of 
 any inftitution^ as was obferved in the begin- 
 aing-j-: Nor are fuch any objection to the gradual 
 
 pro- 
 
 * Nor will even thus much be allowed by a very able and im- 
 partial author, whom I have often been obliged to cite, and whofe 
 ^fFeftion to the caufe of chriflianity appears fufficiently in this, and 
 many other of his works, which I wilh more of our countrymen were 
 duly acquainted with, and valued as they well deferve. Quas fi probe 
 reputentur, nemo mirabitur proxime poll apoflolorum temporaeaa 
 chriftianis di(Sa et fa6la efle, quse vix hodie apud dodiores et probio- 
 Jt$ dici aut fieri pofTent. Itaque evangelium poflea plenius intellcc- 
 tqm et altius in animum demiflum majores fru^us protulit, etetiam- 
 num profert. Ab ethnica, hoc eft, impuriffima vita, ad inlignem 
 fanftimoniam plerique tam fubito tranltre non poterant ; nee prifti- 
 nam ignorantiam extempio, infigni evangelii cognitione, mutare. 
 Ejufmodi fru6lus, ut cseteri omnes, nonnifi (eniim maturefcunt. 
 Errant ergo qui quo antiquiores chrlliiani fueruiit, eo meliores fuiffe 
 exiftimant. Evangelium ab infantia animis inftillatum, et longa 
 confue<udine £rmatum, ne eruditionem qua illuftratum poilea eft 
 rnemorem, animos foelicius fubiit, et ad omne virtutum geivus yehe» 
 mentius accendit. Simile quiddam in veteribus Judaeis videre licuit, 
 <[ui ?Egerrim;€ SiMofect prcphetis ab idololatria revocari fe paffi funt, 
 et fubinde in earn relapfi; a qua tamen pofteriores Judaci abttinuere, 
 etiamfi illecebris et fuppliciis fa?pe funt tentati. Sed tamen chriftiani 
 apoftolici luvi infinito intervallo ethnicos cognitione rerum divinarum 
 et fandlimonia morum pJerumque fuperabant ; quamvis ejufmodi 
 non erant qualcs efTe debuiffent. Pafla hoc forte eft divina provi- 
 dential ne apoilolorum difcipuli evangelii auiPiores fuiffe viderentur, 
 neve foUeorum fanftimonia chriftiana dodlrinacommendata videre- 
 tur ; vel ut femper magnum intereflet difcrimen infer magiftros et 
 difclpulos; quo dodrina; evangelicae divinitas magis eluceret; aut 
 alia de caufa quam comminiici nuac non poffumus. Interim de re 
 conftat, quam cave negaveri5, -quod rationem fat commodam ejus 
 
 piff. xii. 
 
 I Partii. p. 48. 
 
 1^3 
 
1 1 
 
 1 6 6 Qf the freer a! Difpenfatiom 
 
 progrefs of religion here fuppofed. Neither were 
 the firlt chriftians different from other men, as 
 foon as thefe extraordinary hojx^s, and terrors 
 ceafcdf ; as foon as they were at eafe in the 
 world ; and left to the common courfe of it, and 
 once became involved in all its fafliions, forms, 
 and interefts: having all along this treafiire in 
 earthen vejfcis, that tJie excellejicy of the power might 
 be of God ^ and not of them {l). 
 
 When 
 
 ttffctXHacc^ xxTv^icoiMBvcVy TT.vixxvTx Tjjj dQiu >vtXxvvi\ tt.v d^X'^.v fAa/x'ca- 
 ^iv r. cvalutri^y hcc rr? ruiv Inco^i^oLffxocXu^v aVar»j?, o** x«t dn (^Yi^evGi 
 IT* ruv A'OToa^Xm T^wmof^tva, yvfjLvn y^oivroy >Jd% m Ki(pu\riy ru rvjc aX„- 
 e^ift? «»!^L>/AaT»_T/.v ^BVG'i.iiviA.ov yvujcTii, a\TiKr,(VTrsiv i^iyjipei, Evfeb. 
 Hilt. EccJ. L. 111. c. 26. — * The flria morals or behaviour of the 
 primitive chnftians ; their fobriety, challity, humility, &c. fhone in 
 their greatell fplendour, during the lives of the apoftles ; but dege- 
 nerated fo much daily from the period in quellion, that there was no 
 difference in the fourth century, between the manners and conduft 
 of the chriHians, and thofe of other people.' Bayle, Gen. Did. Vol. 
 YII.P.770.N. From the dcfcription7^//^» gives of the licentiouf. 
 nefs, the luxury, and lewdnefs of that town in particular, where 
 Chniiians iirll received their name, (vid. Mtfopo^on or Antiochenfts, 
 pallim.) we are not permitted to form any high idea of their purity 
 in thofe days: and however aggravated fuch an account may be, as 
 Am, Marcellwus owns it to have been, (L.xxii.) yet we cannot help 
 fuppofing, that there were fome grounds for fo {^vt^t a charge againll 
 
 -.„ r""'r- v^':^*'- ^ »' ^'f^i, ^ ui. ii. p. 204, Arc. witli 
 
 yttringa s DiiTertation on the State of the Church, from }^ero\ time 
 tiil Trajan. Obf Sac. L.iv. c. 7, 8. 
 
 (l) *It is with religion, as it is with arts and fciences ; the firft 
 eflays are felaom perfed ; tiiey arrive not to their height at firit • 
 they require a gradual improvement. And fo it is here : the primi! 
 tive Chrijlians ^^x^ not grown up to that pcrfeaion of knowled^^e 
 and undehlandmg, which was deiigned by the author of our reliajon 
 Chrifliamty was in its infancy, at moll in its childhood, when'thcfc 
 men wrote; and therefore it is no wonder that ihcy /pake as children 
 that Xki^y undcrftood as children, that they thought as children: This 
 was according to the ceconomy they were then unJer. And befides, 
 they had not time and hi lure to fe.rch into the rhri/^u^„ dodrines, 
 nor had they, laid in a fufhcicnt Hock and fund tor that piirpofe ; they 
 
 bcinji 
 
 af Revealed Religion. 1 67 
 
 When chrijiianity is countenanced by the civil 
 power, and thereby gains protection againft out- 
 ward violence from its ancient enemies, it lofes 
 
 much 
 
 being but newly adopted Into- the r/^r/^/Vi« church : yet they were 
 willing to appear in its behalf, to defend it as well as they could^ 
 which was accepted by Heaven.' Edwards's Patrologia, p. 57. ' Let 
 me not be cenfured, though I fhould be fo bold as to fay, that we 
 ihould have underftood the fcriptures much better, if we had not had 
 ihe writings of the fathers ; for they have obfcured and depraved them 
 by their different and contrary comments; they have raifed contro- 
 verfies, they have taught men to quarrel and difpute about the 
 fenfe of many texts, which otherwile are obvious, and about feveral 
 matters of pradice, which are evident enough in themfelves, fome 
 of which are fuperlHtious, &c. ib p. 135. I could here alfo take 
 notice, how tlie writings of the fathers do generally j«Itify thofe 
 rites, ufages, and ceremonies, which were preparatives to popery. 
 For my part, 1 have been alhamed to fee how fome men fweat to 
 anfwer feveral places in the ancient fathers* works, which the papijis 
 alledge in defence of their ceremonies and fuperftitious obfervances.* 
 Id. Free Difc, on Tr. and Err. p. 234. 
 
 * Nor is there any one chriftian church » the world, that at this 
 time doth believe all that the fathers did believe and teach in their 
 time, even in thofe things in which they did not contradict eack 
 other : nor is it the worfe for not doing fo : nor is there any one 
 chiirgh in the chriftian world, that at this day doth enjoin and ob- 
 ferve all or the greater part of what was enjoined and pradifed ia 
 the primitive church. And therefore it is very little better than ^- 
 pocrifyy to pretend that fubmifTion and refignation to the ancient 
 fathers, and to the primitive praftice ; when they very well know 
 that the learning and induftry of pious men who fucceeded the fa- 
 thers, and the great fkill in languages which they have arrived to, 
 together with the affiftance they have received from them, have dif- 
 covered much which was not known to them, and made other inter- 
 pretation of fcripture, than was agreeable with their conceptions : 
 and that the difference of times, the alterations of climates, the na- 
 ture and humour of nations and people, have introduced many things 
 which were not, and altered other things which were, in the pradlicc 
 of xh^ primiti-ve churchy and obferved in the primitive times. — And 
 ive have no reafon to believe that fuch introduAions or alterations 
 are unacceptable to God Almighty, or that he ever meant to limit 
 pofterity when his church fhould be propagated and fpread over the 
 face of the earth, to obferve all that was at firft practifed when all 
 the chriftians in the world might have been contained in two or three^ 
 great cities. — And we may pioufly believe that our Saviour himfelf 
 and his apoftles, who knew well how far the church in time would 
 be extended, would not have reduced the chriftian faith and doftrine 
 JLUto fo little room, and left fo little direaion for the government 
 
 Jj A thereof. 
 
1 6 3 Of the fever d Difpcnfations 
 
 much of its internal purity, and fufters many 
 ways by the connection with its new friends : as 
 
 foon 
 
 thereof, if they had either expe^ed fuch a union of opinion and 
 judgment in all propofitions which might arife, or be drawn from 
 the former, as fome men fancy to be neceffary ; or if they had not 
 intended or forefeen, that in the latter, very many things would de- 
 pend upon the wifdom and difcrction of chrilHan princes; who, 
 according lo the culbms and manners of the nations where chrif- 
 tianity fhould be planted, would eftabliih and alter manv things, as 
 they (aw from time to time like to advance, and contribute to the 
 growth and pradice thereof.' 
 
 ' Biit what then ? fhall antiquity be defpifed by us, and the great 
 learning and piety of the firlt lights, the reverend fathers of the 
 Ciiurch, be undervalued, and their judgment looked upon without 
 rtvcrcncc r God forbid. We refort to antiquity ns the bell evidence 
 of what was then done, and think we have the fame libertv in the 
 perufal of the monuments thereof, thofe conduits which convey to us 
 the information of what was then done, as in other hillory, which, 
 3t may be, hath been tranfmitted with more care and exadnefs; to 
 confider the improbability of this matter of fad, and fo doubt the 
 veracity of it; the prudence and fitnefs cf another, and think it 
 might have been better done. And fo we look upon ihe fathers, and 
 what they faid, and what they did, with full reverence, though not 
 with full refignation ; we admire their learning and their piety, and 
 wonder how they arrived at either, in times of fo much barbarity and 
 Ignorance, m thofe places where thev lived : and thank God for 
 enlightening them to give teftimony for him in thofe ages of dark- 
 nefs and inhdelity, and for the inftrudion and information that we 
 have received from them ; and our reverence is the greater to them, 
 for having feen fo much in fo great darknefs ; and yet we cannot 
 but think that darknefs hindered them from feeing all. And when 
 we connder the fadion and diftemper of the times they lived in, wc 
 may, without leiTening the eftimation we have for them, believe that 
 that diliemper and fadion might have fome influence upon them, 
 and miflcad them in fome particulars : And when they fo often con- 
 tradia one another in many things, and many of th.-m themfelves 
 m fome, it cannot be reafonable to oblige us to fubint in all thin^rs 
 to which they all confent, if our reafon makes it manifeil to us. that 
 they are in the wrong ; though I do not know that we do diflbnt 
 from them in any fuch particular, yet we fee all that they did, and 
 we may modcilly believe, that they did not fee all that we do - In 
 a word, many men do believe, that religion and truth have fuffered 
 much more prejudice by the too fupine fubmiffion and refignation 
 to antiquity, and the t(>o much modefty and bafhfulnefs that retrain- 
 ed mun from contradiding the ancients, than thc>y have, or are like 
 to do, by our fwerving from thofe ruleS and dilates which they have 
 preicrioed to us ; and we (hall have well complied with the advice 
 of the prophet, Jer. vi. 16. when we have flood upon the oUivays, 
 
 and 
 
 cf Revealed Religio?t. 169 
 
 foon as it becomes eftablifhed in the Roman Em- 
 pire, it partakes of all the imperial pomp and pa- 
 geantry; and admits the pagan ceremonies*. 
 We find it immediately fplit into new herefies, 
 and fchifms ; torn witli ambitious contefts, and 
 ftruggles for wealth and power -f- : perplexing 
 
 doubts 
 
 and feen the old paths , informed ourfelves of what they faid, and 
 what they did, though we do not lie down to them and acquiefce in 
 all that pleafed them. He v/ho will profefs all the opinions which 
 were held by the mod antient fathers, and obferveall that was prac- 
 tifed in the primitinje times, cannot be of the communion of any one 
 church in the world ; as he v^ho would follow the politic maxims of 
 antiquity, and the rules heretofore obferved among other nations, 
 and it may be in his own ; will be found a very inconvenient coun- 
 fcUor in the prefent affairs of any court in Europe.^ Ld. Clarendon^ of 
 the reverence due to antiquity, Eff. p. 223, 4, 5, 6. fol. 
 
 • ScQ Midd/iton^s Letter from Rome, 4th Ed. *Tum maxime vitiari 
 coepit, cum minime debuerat ; Imperio ad (idem addudo, fedet im- 
 perii pompa ecclefiam in(iciente : ethnicis ad ChriHum converfis, fed 
 et Chrifli religione ad ethnicie formam depravata, &c. Turrettin. dc 
 variis Chr. Rel. fatis. Orat. Acad. Genev. 1708, p. 15. Comp. Ne^t. 
 on Dan c. xiv. and Boehmer, "Jus EccL Proteftant. fedl. 12. p. 8, 9. 
 et 5 xvii, &c. Ed, v. 1756, Vcraj pietatis in locum ingens variar am. 
 fuperftitionum agmen fen(im fuffedum eft, quae parti m ex receptis 
 temere fententiis, partim ex praspoflero profanos ritus imitandi 
 fludio, partim ex infita omnium hominum mentibus ad vanam quan-* 
 dam religionis oilentationein propenfione, profedse funt. Crebrae 
 primuin in Palxflinam, et ad eorum fepulchra, qui pro veritate oc- 
 cubuerant, profeftiones inllitutx funt, quad hinc fanditads femen, 
 falutifque certa fpes domum referri po(iit. Ex Palaeflina dcinde, 
 locifque fandlitatis opinione verendis, pulveris feu terrae portiones, 
 tanquam efficaciflima contra vim malorum remcdia, ablatae, et caro 
 ubique pretio venditae, et redemptae funt. Supplicationes porro pub- 
 lics;, qaibus Deos olim populi placare volebant, ab his fumptas, 
 magnaque multis in locis pompa celebrataj funt. Templis, aquae 
 certis formulis confccrata;, imaginibus fanftorum hominum, eadem 
 virtus afcripta, eade.mque jura tributa, quae Deorum templis, (latuis 
 et luflrationihus antequam Chriflus veniffet, adfcripta fuerant. Ex 
 his fpcciminibus conjedluram facile lagaciores facient, quantum pax 
 et tranquiilita.s, per Conftantinum parta, rebus Chriflianis nocuerit. 
 J. L, Mojhtmii Inll. Hiil. Chrill. Ant. Sasc. 4. Par. ii. c. 3. fedl. 2. 
 
 P-3»2- 
 
 f Vid. A-nrni-n. Mar. L. XV. et xxvii Socr. Eccl. H. L.i. c.22, 23, 
 Bcehmcri Diifert. Jur. Eccl. paffim. Sub cruce ut plurimum integra 
 Cfat Eccleiiarum falus; poflquam vero, maxime Conjiantini tempore, 
 
 potentia 
 
i! 
 
 i 
 
 
 170 Of the fever-al Difpej^ations 
 
 doubts, and difficulties r^ifed in points of doc- 
 trine ; fubtile diftindions, 'and nice refinements 
 made in its precepts; and botH often confound- 
 ed in many an idle controverfy (m) : till at length 
 
 almoft 
 
 potentia et divitils crefcere ccrpit/avero mox Mqw'iX. fcopo ; et ex 
 clericorum faftu et avaritia, finguli, non qua: Chrifti, fed quae fua, 
 quaerere incepenmt; et inde Ecclefia ambitionis atque avaritias pa- 
 IcEftra fafta efle videtur. Quid itaque mirum, quod fuprema lex 
 Ecclefiaftica quoque hue unice direda fiierit, ut avaritia; clericali 
 fatisfieret; thefauri Ecclefiaftici, fub Ipecie boni opcru^ augerentur; 
 et dominat us facer, feu hierarchia^ magis magifque, ab initio quidem 
 occulte, fed mox manifefte, ftabiliretur; et tandem in moiiftrum 
 \\\\x6.Monarchire Rojnante e.xcreverit ? Id. Jus Eccl. Proiefant, p. 13. 
 JJala 1720. 
 
 (M) Sicut olim arbori vitas pra.*1ata arbor fcientiae maxima ^cAt^ 
 rat mala^ttt tunc quoque curiofam eruditionem^ietati antehabitam, 
 et ex rcligione artem faSlam : cui deinde confequens *fuerit, ut ad ex- 
 emplum eorum qui turrim Bahylonicam asdificabapt, affedlatio teme- 
 raria rerum fublimium diiTonas locutiones et difcordiam pareret. 
 Grot,y , R. C. L. ii. c. i. p. 277. Ut in illis temporihus, fays Erafmus 
 very jiiftly, i'ngenicfa resfuit ejje Chriftianum. Comp. Bajil. ap. Dama/c^ 
 Hilar, ad CcnjL Eu/eh, de Vit. Con/}, L. ii. c.61. Ammian. M. L.xxi. 
 iiXi.Barheyrac, Pref. \oPuf. fed. 19. Taylor, Lib. Proph. fedl.z. No. 26. 
 Turrettin, ib. p. 16, 20. Mahly, Obf. on the Romans, B.iii. p. 235. 
 *At firft the teachers of Chriftianity difcourfed it with more fimpli- 
 city, after the manner of Chrift and his apoftles, as may be feen in 
 Clemens Rcmanus : but afterward, as learning came into the Church, 
 they turned the form of Chriftianity from that of a lauj, into that of 
 an art. They early feparated all the matters of truth from the mat- 
 ters of duty ; which the holy fcriptures never do; and this was the 
 foundation of the doflrine of religion which is an art. This fepara- 
 tion was more ufcful to fpeculation and difpute, than to life and 
 pradice : but fo it went on, till there was no one of the liberal arts 
 rriore artificial and fubtle than the art of religion. Then the fyftems 
 of Chriftianity came into efteem, and were multiplied ; and every 
 point of dodlrine was difputed, oppofed, and defended with the 
 greateft nicenefs that could be. Few were able, to diftingiiifh what 
 was human in matter and form, from what was divine; and fewer 
 dared to own it. But, by this means, none but thofe who had learn- 
 ing and fagacwy, could comprehend the do£lrine of Chriftianity : 
 and the people found it fo difficult to underfland, what the learned 
 had made almoft unintelligible to them felves, that they defpaired of 
 knowledge, and acquiefced in ignorance.* Jfffn on FhiL'i. 10. 
 Trads, Vol. II p. 337. The fevcr.il ./i-;V/^rj of Chriftianity in diffe- 
 rent ages are fct down in the fame place, and ib very well defcribed, 
 that any common Chrillian by perufing them may eafily fee* what 
 f}'ftem he is of. 
 
 Tq 
 
 of Revealed Religion . 171 
 
 almoft the whole church of Chrijl feems to be 
 overwhelmed with Popery znd -Mahmetamfm-y for 
 which indeeed it was too fully ripe(N) : Though 
 
 perhaps 
 
 To give the reader a general idea of his method, T (hall here add 
 his principal divifions, as well as the fubllance of what is delivered 
 under them, from p. 338, and 366. containing, i.The fmiplicity of 
 the truth of Chriftianity, in the ages next after the apoftles to St. 
 Aiigujline, i.e, till after A, D. 404. 2. The rudiments of the art of 
 Chriftianity in the ages following them, froni St. Augujline to P. Lom^ 
 bard, i, e. between A, Z). 404, and 1 141. 3, The fubtilty and cor- 
 ruption of Chriftianity, from P. Lombard to Luther ; joined with the 
 groffnefs of idolatry arid fuperftition in practice: i,e. from A,D, 
 1 1 4 1 , to 1 5 1 7 . 4. The reformation of the ftate of Chriftianity apiong 
 fome Proteftants, from Luther ; rejecting the corruptions, retaining 
 the art: fince ^. D. 15 17. 5. The reftoration of the fimplicity of 
 Chriftianity ; not only rejecting the corruptions, but alfo the art : 
 confidering Chfiftiinity as a law, or adl of grace. — In the firft 
 period of time, Chriftianity was virtue and piety ; without any mix- 
 ture of learning. 'In the fecond, it was nature and grace with a tinc- 
 ture of learning. In the third, it was church and facraments, with 
 the extremeft fubtilty, and abundance of fuperftition. In the fourth, 
 it was Chrift and faith ; being a refinement upon the doctrine of the 
 fecond period. In the next period of time, we hope it will be piety 
 and virtue, as in the firft; with an improvement from the beft Greek 
 and Roman moralifts, corre6lcd and perfefled by the gofpel of Chrift. 
 
 (n) See Saleh Prelim. Difc. to the Koran, feft. 2. Add Grot, de 
 Ver. R. C. L. vi. c. i. not. *In the mean time {as Mr. Rotheram oh^ 
 ferves, Serm. on the Wifdom of Prov.) the remains of learning were 
 faved in the Eaft from amidft the general wreck, by the removal of 
 the feat of Empire from Rotne to Conftantinople; which otherwife muft 
 have periihed entirely, when the Northern nations over-ran the 
 Weftern Empire. — So far was this ftep from caufing the downfal of 
 the Empire, that it was a means of faving a part of it : which an- 
 fwered two great purpofes, and doubly ferved religion. The eaftern 
 or Greek church was faved from the fpiritual ufurpation of the Ro- 
 mifti ; and learning was preferved from the fury of Gothic barbarifm, 
 to be an inftrument in due time of retrieving Europe from the tyran- 
 ny of fuperilition.' As in efFecl it did upon the downfal of that Em- 
 pire, and the feizing this its metropolis by theTwri/; [^.Z). 1453.] 
 which obliged the Chriftians of the Greek church to betake them- 
 fcives for refuge into Italy and the adjacent parts, whereby the ftudy 
 and knowledge of the Greek language was there much propagated. 
 Worthingtcu, c. 8. Comp. Gerdes Hift. Evang. fcil xvi. p. lo. Other 
 benefits arifin^ from this Revolution may be feen in the Complete 
 ColhSlicn of Foynges, &c. B. i. c. z, fc<^. i6. p. 5 1 5. A charader of 
 thefe emigrants, with fome account of their works, may be feen in 
 Fojlcr's Eluy on Accents, p. 209, 215, &c. 2d Ed. Thatfuch as thefe, 
 
 or 
 
172 Of the fever al Dfpenfatiom 
 
 perhaps the latter of thefe two (notwithftanding 
 the mixture of impofture in it) may have proved 
 a feafonable and neceffary correftive of the for*- 
 mer; by its amazing progrefs giving fome check 
 to every branch of antichriftian tyranny, which 
 was then growing predominant; and by its more 
 tolerant fpirit prefei-ving the remains of thofe par- 
 ticular churches, which would have otherwife 
 been wholly exterminated ^ and may appear to 
 have been in the main, a real and confiderable 
 reformation (o). 
 
 But 
 
 or their contemporaries, or any fet of learned men in the foregoing 
 century, were able to forge all the claffick authors except half a 
 dozen, can hardly be fuppoi?d by any befide fuch a number oi'Jefutts. 
 See an extraordinary performance of father Harduin, entitled ad 
 Cenfaram Script. Vet. Prclegom, Ed. Lend, 1766. 
 
 (o) Stc Rejle^ions onMchammedi/my Sec. printed 1735, wherein the 
 author-attempts to fhew that Mohammedifm may have been ordained 
 for the good of Chriftianity, to withftand the corruptions of it iij 
 times paft, and toincreafe and enlarge it in times to come, p. 5, &c. 
 * The I'urh in general honour Chrift and Ckriftianity —\i2Xt, a greit 
 opinion of the lanftity of our religion — and in many places refpecl 
 the Chriftian clergy who live among them, notwithftanding their 
 hatred of the Laity in fome countries: one fe6b of them particularly 
 bjeJieyes that Chrift is God, and the Redeemer of the world ; and 
 that he (hall judge it at the laft day. Thefe are diftinguifhed by the 
 n,ame of the good followers of the Meffiah. Worthingtotty B. Left. V. 
 2. p. 246. All authors agree, that what gave Mahomet the greatcft 
 room to advance his new religion, (befide the weaknefs of the Roman 
 and the Ferfian monarchies, fee Mod. Ft, ofUni'v. Hiji. Vol. L p. 18, 
 fpl.) was the diftradled, ignorant, corrupt ftate of the eaftern church 
 at that time ; the miferable contentions, and moft horrid perfecu- 
 tions, on every religjous pretence; the diftblutenefs of all fefts and 
 parties : and 'tis evident that he contributed not only to reform the 
 morals of a great part of the world, but likewife reduced them from 
 polytheifm and grofs idolatry, to the belief and worftiip of one God ; 
 which was the principal doftrine he fet cut with at firft, and gained 
 great reputation by ; and winch he made the ground of his pretend- 
 ed miftion. His fyflem muft have the fame efrecl ftill wherever it 
 prevails, as it does very lar;;cly in feveral heathen countries, being 
 jb much fuperior to any other fpecies of religion fettled in fuch 
 countries : it contains a great deal of pure Chnjlianity ; it enforces 
 
 the 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 
 
 ^7Z 
 
 «. 
 
 ■f 
 
 /> 
 
 But this IS a fubjeft too difagreeable to dwell 
 upon ; nor am I inclined to aggravate the imper- 
 fedlions of paft ages. All that I would obferve, is 
 what appears from the moll tranfient view of 
 ecclefiaftical hiftory, namely, that the rife, and 
 progrefs of Chrijli unity has, in the main, been 
 fimilar to that of all other difpenfations ; that both 
 the name of Chrift and the nature of his religion, 
 were difcovered y or as we may fay, both the exter^ 
 7ial and internal propagation of Chrijliajiity ^ was 
 carried on in the fame gradual manner. 
 
 As to the firft. The fews, w^ho had before been 
 made ufe of to fpread the knowledge of the true 
 God, and his providence, and prepare men for a 
 more noble inftitution, by their frequent difper- 
 fions all over the eaft^ are here much more fo, 
 
 (when 
 
 the virtues of charity, temperance, juftice, and fidelity, in the ftrong- 
 eft manner; it prohibits extortion ; and all kinds of cruelty, even to 
 brutes ; and binds its votaries to the ftrideft order, regularity, and 
 devotion. (V. Bayle Art. Mahomet^ not. l. Hettinger Hift. Or. p. 3 1 5, 
 &c.) Several feds of them believe in Chrijiy (vid. D. MiWus deRel^ 
 Moham. DifT. X. p. 344, &c. Reland de R. M. p. 25, &c. and Sir 
 P. Ricaut\ Hift. B. ii. c. 1 1, &c. or Millar^ p. 230.) and entertain 
 as worthy notions of him to the full, as fome of the Papifis do at 
 prefent. (See V Alcoran des Cordeliers ; and Bayle. Gen. Did. V ol. vii. 
 p. 326. B.) One may fee to what height the Romlfi corruptions were 
 grown in Mahomet^ time, by his reproaching the Chrijiians vv ith 
 their aftbciating to God their doftors and monks {Kora7i\x, 31.) and 
 by his furprifing miftake of the Virgin Mary^ for the third perion in 
 the Trinity : which yet is not much worfe than the account given of 
 her by St. Cyril, {Sec Reland *s Four treatifes on M^/&. p. 174, &c. 
 or Salens Prelim. Difc. p. 35. and his Koran, c. v. p. 98.) How this 
 miftake came about may be fcen in D. Millii DifT. de Mohammedijm 
 ante Mohammedem, p. ^^6, 347. And what havock thofe moft lamen- 
 table controverfies on this fubjca made, appears from the confeffion 
 of a learned writer; who tells us, that obliged him to drop his de- 
 lign of giving us the hiftory of thefe churches. Pref. to Prid. Life of 
 Mahomet, See alfo Jcrtin's Remarks on Eccl. Hift. Vol. IIL p. 42,&'c. 
 V. p. 453, &c. his 1" charge, and Mr. %/cr*s EiTay on the Divia« 
 CEcoRomy, p. 52, 54, 65, &c. 
 
1 74 Of the fever al Difpenfattons 
 
 (when they were much better qualified for it, 
 and lefs liable than ever to be corrupted by the 
 heathen, among whom fome of tliem were fo 
 long to converfe) [p] by their difperfion over the 
 whole world, at the deftru6lion of their temple, 
 and government, by Titus, and under the follow- 
 ing emperors; efpecially Hadrian {qJ) 3 and there- 
 
 by 
 
 [p] See Le Clerc, Caufes of Incred. p. 264, &c. In fa^, none of 
 them that we know of, however bad they were, and arc in other re- 
 fpeas, have fallen from their own God, to the idolatrous worlhip 
 of their neighbours any where, during this their moll mifcrable 
 difperfion ; their feeming fo long to be utterly rejeaed by him ; a 
 tenth part of which fuffering would have been the utter ruin of any 
 Other people, and totally dellroyed the very name of thefe in any 
 former times. This mult be thought a little remarkable by every 
 one who thinks at all about it. Nor has their cafe been lefs extra- 
 ordinary in Chriftian countries, where they have never been per- 
 mitted to reft long in any kingdom ; where frequently, in every age, 
 men's eyes are turned upon them by fome new general perfeciition; 
 and yet, notwithftanding all this, they are univerfally believed to be 
 more numerous in the whole at prefent, than they have ever been in 
 their moft flouriihing eftate, in their own land. The authors of Mr^. 
 Vni'v. Hijl, allow them to be upwards of three r.iillions. B. xx. c.i. 
 p. 620. fol. 
 
 ((^) He fold them at fairs for the fame price as horfe?, \Hier. fn 
 Jer. p. 342. M. Glycas fays, the ftated price was four y^-icx for one 
 bufhel of barley. Annal.ap. Worthingw:, B L. f.13. ubi plura.] and 
 would not fufier any of them fo much as to fet foot in, or come in 
 view of Jeru/alem, fay fome [Aug. Civ. Lib. xv. c. 21. Sulp, Sev. 
 Hift.S.L. ii. C.31. Hil. in PJ\ xlviii.] orofanv p^rtofj^f^, ac- 
 cording to others. [Hier.mDan. 595. ^'^r/. Apol. c. 21] Nor could 
 they obtain even this privilege from any of the fucceeding empe- 
 rors (except Julian) but with great difficulty, and only for one day 
 in a year, to fee and bewail its ruins ; and that upon paying a con- 
 fidcrable fum; [Hier, in Zeph. c. 2. Univ, Hi ft. B. iii. p. 40. Eujeb. 
 E. H. 21. 6. Comp. Bafnage, Hift. J. B. vi". c. 9. fcdl. 28, 29. et 
 Witfii Exercit. Acad. 12. 16.] a rigour, as has been obferved, that 
 was never ufed towards any other people conquered by t\\^RG7navs. 
 • Thus all the attempts of that perfidious nation towards the recovery 
 of their former condition, ferved only to ae^ravate and heighten 
 thofc calamities, with which they had been fo often threatened by 
 the prophets; and to reduce them to the deplorable fliitc, in which 
 we now fee them; being a crew of contemptible vaj^r.ihonds, dif- 
 perfed all over the world, without king, temple, or pontiff; driven 
 
 fron\ 
 
 '*■) 
 
 
 '>/' 
 
 of Revealed Religion. i J^ 
 
 by every where publhh, and prove the truth of 
 their own, as well as the gofpel prophecies (r); 
 
 and 
 
 from their own country, and not daring to fet foot in it, even as 
 paflengers and ftrangers. The edict ai Adrian excluding all 'Je^s 
 from jerufalem, extended to fuch of them as had embraced the 
 Chrifiian religion; fo that they too being obliged to quit the city, 
 the church was by that means delivered from the fervitude of the 
 law ; for till that time, not only the bifliops of 'Jcrufalem had been 
 chofen from among the circumcifed ChrijHans, but all the converted 
 Jenji's joined to the obfervance of the gofpel that of the law.' Univ, 
 ^Hiji. ib. p. 41. Sulp. Sev. ib. tiMoJheTn, de Reb. Chrift. Sa^c. 2, feft. 
 38. *. 
 
 (r) Deut. xxviii. Matt, xxiii. 35, 38, &c. Luke xxi. 24. Deut, 
 xxxii. 21. Rom. x. 19 Jer. xv. 4. xxv. 9. Hof. iii. 4. Ifai. vi. 9, 
 &c. xlii. 22, &c. Bojuet [Qniv. Hift. p. 304.] obferves a fingular 
 inftance of divine providence, in preferving this people fo much 
 longer, than any of thofe who formerly conquered and enllaved them, 
 *v, g, the AJfyrians, Medes, Greeks, and Romans; Sind ftill continuing 
 them diftinS and feparate from all the other nations among whom 
 they live: with other reafons of this extraordinary difpenfation he 
 affigns the following, ^jiz. That hereby we may find in unfufpecled 
 hands thofe very Scriptures, which foretel both the blindnefs and 
 unhappinefs of thefe fame Jews, who notwithftanding keep them fo 
 religioufly. 
 
 The like obfervation he has made of the Samaritans , a fefl fo 
 weak, that it feems to be upheld on purpofe for a check upon the 
 others ; and to confirm their evidence, by bearing an independent 
 teftimony to the antiquity ofMo/es, and the authenticity of his writ- 
 ings, ib. p. 406. 
 
 In what a remarkable manner every curfe defcribed by Mc/es has 
 been to the full inflided on that ftill miferable people, may be feen 
 in Patrick upon Deut. xxviii. Comp. Mod. Pt. of Univ. Hift. B. xx. 
 c. I. 
 
 Hallet [Difc. Vol. I. p. 3, w^c] fuppofes, that in Pf, li. 14. the 
 hlood-guiltinefs there confelfed relates, not to that of Dwvid himfelf, 
 which accompanied his other fin oi adultery, (as is intimated in the 
 title, though no mention be made of the latter in the whole P/alm;] 
 but to the murder of MeJJiah, which the body of the Je-^jjs are to ac- 
 knowledge in thofe words. This he confirms from ver. 16. — 19. 
 which could not poffibly be true of David's days, but muft be written 
 prophetically, for the general ufe of the Jezus iince the deftrucliott 
 ofjeru/alem. The like he obferves of foine other Pfalms, particu- 
 larly Pf, Ixxiv. 3, 9, &c. The like is obferved of P/. xxii, Ixix, 
 Ixxxviii ; in which the feveral pafTages which exprefsly defcribe the 
 crucifixion of our Lord, are pointed out by Fi/rvtga, Obf. T. I. L. 
 ji. c, 3. p. 380. And the like obfervation is made on P/, xci by 
 Peters [Crit. DiiT. onjoi^, p. 50c), &c.] which he thinks was com- 
 
 pofed 
 
176 Of the federal Difpenfatiom 
 
 and become the beft evidences, becaufe unwilling 
 ones, in favour of the Chi'ijlian religion. 
 
 And as the Roman empire, by its increafe and 
 fettlement at the time of Chrijl's coming, contri- 
 buted remarkably to this fame end, fo did it no 
 lefs afterv^ards by its decline and diflblution ; at 
 which time ChriJUanity [as well as arts and learn- 
 ing] was fpread abroad with its remains, among 
 the Northern nations, and carried to the remoteft 
 ifles ; in the fame manner as the Greek philofophy 
 had been difperfed over all Afia^ upon the diflblu- 
 tion oi Alexanders empire *. 
 
 By thefe and the like means, w^as the gofpel 
 divulged every where; and the found of it might 
 be faid, without an hyberbole, to have gone into 
 all the earthy and its words unto the ends of the 
 
 world: 
 
 pofed for the ule of the Ifraelites in the Wildernefs, upon erefting 
 iht brazen Jerpent i and which perhaps they might have been taught 
 to repeat at the fame time they were looking up to that great {land- 
 ing type or emblem of him, who was to bruijc the J'crpmt^s head, ver. 
 13. and comp. John iii. 14. xii. 32, 33. 
 
 If this appear to be the cafe in fo many of the P/alms, how flrongly 
 does it jullify our Lord's appeal to them as treating of him ! Luke 
 xxiv. 44. And what a noble argument may hence arife, for the 
 con virion and converfion of that extraordinary people to whom they 
 were originally communicated, when once the ^jeily ivhich is on 
 their heartSy fhall be taken an.vay ; as by the fame fpirit of prophecy we 
 are aflured it fhall! Vid. Fentvick on Titles of the Pf p. 116, &c. 
 Add Jortin on Pf. ex. Remarks on Eccl. Hifl. Vol. HI. p. 305. 
 
 • Vid. Rcllin, A. Hill. Vol. VII. Introd. p. 6. « The feeds of 
 Chriftianity, which had been fpread over the whole body of the Ro- 
 man Empiie» were pref»*rved in all thofe fragments into which it was 
 now broken, and even conveyed by many of its barbarous conquer- 
 ors beyond its utmoll X\m\x.%yRothcram on the Wifdom of Providence, 
 p. 40. To which we may add, that the fpirit of Liberty y fo requi- 
 iite to the due growth of this good feed, and to v/hich the Romaiv 
 Empire had not been very favourable, was at the lame time difFufed 
 over its remains ; thofe nations which overturned it, however bar- 
 barous in other refpedls, being favourers of free or limited govern- 
 ments. See Spirit oj Lan.^Si B. xvii. Ct-jt 
 
 of Revealed Religion. i yy 
 
 world ^ I and where it has prevailed, it prevailed 
 more entirely than any other religion could ; which 
 makes a great abatement in the difproportion that 
 heathenifm in general may feem to have, in its 
 numbers, above ChriftiajiityX. And though fome 
 nations, at firft view, feem to have quite loft it 
 again, or greatly abufed and corrupted it ; yet, 
 upon a more ftri6t furvey, we difcover a great 
 deal of it mixed in their feveral fyftem.s, and hid 
 under different names ; which we have reafon to 
 think, will, at length, be found of them more 
 fully; and like feed fown, revive in its own fea- 
 fon. Nor is it now in fo narrow a compafs as is 
 generally imagined *. Though there be many 
 large countries where it is not eftablilhed, or 
 formally profeffed \ yet there are fome traces, 
 both of this and former revelations, in moft parts 
 of the world i as appears from feveral modern 
 writers f : and though we often find it blended 
 with impure rites, and grofs fuperfritions, among 
 a barbarous people; yet at the fame time v/e find, 
 that it has had a very confiderable efFeft, even 
 upon fuch; and will, we truft, in time lead them 
 to a more pure and perfect profeffion of it, when 
 they become ripe for fuch a manifcftation : and 
 as fome corruptions, both in the natural and civil 
 ^ody, generally make way for a more perfeft 
 
 found- 
 
 § Rom, X. 18. See the authors below. 
 
 J ^'f^^^'j' y^^I- 1- P- 347- . . 
 
 Via. A^^r/V// Lux Evang. toti orbi exoriens, c. 36, Src. or M/- 
 lar\ Hilt. Prop. c. 7, 8, &c. 
 
 f See many of them cited, and more referred to, by "Jenhin, Fa- 
 hriciia and Millar. Add Young's Hift. Dilf. Vol. II. p. 218, &c. 
 with that remarkable teftimony of C^fmcs Indicopkujlei in Sharpie 
 iJerm. on the want of Univerfality, p. ^i^ Sec. 
 
 M 
 
rjS 
 
 Of the fcccral 'Difpenfathm 
 
 foundnefs, and then ai*e themfelves cured: io may 
 it be in the body fpivitual. Thus that thick cloud 
 of Fopery, which has been fo long hanging over 
 the weftern church, and was in part diflipated at 
 the Rtformaticn (which during the fire of perfe- 
 eution raifed up fome fliining examples of true 
 primitive piety, refining many parts of the 
 Chriftian v^^orld from all the drofs they had con- 
 traced*, and which helped greatly to amend, at 
 feaft the difcipline of that very church, who re- 
 fufed to admit any material alteration in her doc- 
 trines i ;) may ftill, by its refemblance to the 
 worftiip of heathens, lead them more eafily and 
 infenfibly out of their groflTer errors j and be no 
 improper introdu6lion to a more pure religion 
 among them ; and when it has ferved that end, 
 its own idolatries be aboliftied§5 and by its judg- 
 ments alarm, and convince the Jra^j, (whofe blind- 
 
 nefs 
 
 * See WorthingtoiH EITay, p. 152, &c. Tumtiln de Chrifl. Doftr. 
 Fatis, p. 29. Mojhem. Inft. Hiit Eccl. Sxc. xvi. fea. 11. 
 
 t See Hake^viir^ Apology, p. 547. Collier, Eccl H. Vol. II. p. 
 I -,% I -,Q. How much the retormation contributed to improve the 
 church, both in fcience and morals, may be feen m Robertjon, Hilt. 
 Ch. V. B.xii. p. 449, &c. 
 
 ^ Dr. Worthins^ton haa fixed the term of antkhrift, foretold by 
 DameU xii- 7. at 1260 years, according to the ufual computation; 
 viz. a time, 360 ; Wnts, or twice a time, 720; and half a time, 180 : 
 datine its commencement A. D. 618. and confequently its expira- 
 tion A. D. 1878. p. 208. He adds, ' St. Paul aiTures us that (/.^^ 
 ^7v (hall not come, except thin come a falling a^ayfirft. The tailing 
 awar, we fte, is come. This impediment is removed in thcfe our 
 days There is no want of a defedion from the faith, to retard hi3 
 comine Were oi:r Lord now at the door, as he cannot be far oft, 
 there it but too much ground for that qucftion, When the^on of man 
 comcth U. e, according to Dr. W's interpretation, for the dearuaion 
 of antichrift] JJmll he fnd faith on earth? B. Lc^. v. 2. Difc xvn. 
 p. 1214. Coinp. Dr. lUrrf^ ingenious Traft on the fame fubjca. 
 p. 14c, I'C. 
 
 of Rc^ceahd Religion. iy() 
 
 nefs It has liitherto confirmed -f-;) and fo be pro- 
 ductive of a brighter light than ever; make way 
 for a ftill purer, as well as more enlarged ftate of 
 ChnjUanit)\ among both fe%vs and Gentiles (s). 
 
 But not to dwell on conjectures ; this we knov/ 
 afTuredly, that every people, nation, and lan- 
 guage fliall at laft embrace the true religion 5 and 
 all kingdoms of the world become the kingdom 
 of Chrift(T). 
 
 Se- 
 
 \ See Brett^s Narrative of the Je^uoijh Council ; Phenlx, Vol. I. p. 
 543. compared with Menajph Ben IfraeVi Defence, ib. Vol. II. p. 
 
 401. 
 
 (s) See Ed-ward's Survey, p. 715. or Scott^s Chriftian Life, Part 
 ii. Vol. II. c. 7. p. 489. Some great end will moft undoubtedly be 
 ferved by the permiflion of Popery \o long, even after the myfery of 
 its iniquhy is (een through by the generality of its own profeflors; 
 and it can therefore be upheld merely on political views ; as feems 
 to be in a great meafure the cafe at prefent. When its dominion 
 throughout -£aro^^ is nolefs vifibly declining as the time draws near 
 to which the fure word of prophecy has fixed its downfal. See the 
 note * above. Even during its darkeft ages, which afford the very 
 ilrongeft objedlion to th^t pro^refs in religion we fuppofe, Chriilianity 
 was ftill fpreading wider and wider, in the more dillant pans of the 
 
 God intends to have among the heathens of thofe parts ; and after 
 they are fully converted, may be moft ferviceable to promote the 
 converfion of others. [Sec Jurieu, Pref. to Accompl. Proph. or Mil- 
 lar, Vol. II. p. 230, 364.] We may affirm that popery there, is ftill 
 better than pa^anifm; and by its fo great refemblance of the pagan 
 fuperftitions, (particularly in the point of images) it more eafily 
 infinuates itfelf among fuch people; and may be confidered there- 
 fore, in fome refpeds, as no very unfit introdu^ion to a m.ore per- 
 fea ftate of religion in future ages; whenever they iliall become 
 capable of it. See Colliber's Impartial Inquiry, p. 138. 2d Edit, with 
 Gage* s Survey o£ t\\Q IVeJlIndies. 
 
 (r) Pf.'u.S. xxii. 27. Ixxii. II. Ixxxvi. 9. Tfa.il 2, ix. 7. xL 
 9-11. xl. ^. xlix.6. Hi. 10. Iv. 5, Ivi. 7. lx.9 — II. Ixvi. iS, 22. 
 EzeJk xxxvii. 21, &c.xxxix. 23,29. Z)^;/. ii. 44. vii. 14, 27. Hof.i. 
 10. iii. 5. Joel Hi, i, &c. Jm. ix. 14. Mich. v. 4. Zeph. iii. g. Zech. 
 ix. to. xii. 10. xiv. 9. Mai. i. il. Matt. xxiv. 14. Mar/: xiiL 10. 
 luie iii. 6. xxi. 24. ^J?/ xiii. 47. Rom. viii. 19, Sec. xl 25. xiv. 1 1, 
 &c, 1 Cor, ^v. 25. 2 Cor, iii. 16, &c. Rev. xi. 15. xiv. 6. 
 
 }/l z From 
 
' 1 
 
 1 So Of the fever al Difpenfatiom 
 
 Secondly. As to what may be called more par- 
 ticularly the internal propagation of Chriftianity, 
 or the comprehenfion of the whole gofpel fcheme ; 
 the fame method is carried on, though not in 
 fo vifible a manner, or capable of being diftni- 
 guiflied by fuch remarkable periods. That pcr- 
 fea analog-^ between religion and the common 
 courfe of nature, which has been fo well difplay- 
 ed by a late writer *, holds no lefs true, I be- 
 lieve, in this refpea j and that as all arts and 
 fciences, every improvement in natural and civil 
 life, are ftill drawing nearer to perfcaion ; as we 
 become daily better acquainted with the fyftem 
 of the world, as well as that of the univerfe; 
 with the nature of the heavens, and earth; with 
 that of our own body, and mind; in (hort, as 
 every branch of knowledge has been all along en- 
 larging, and improving itfelf ; and every fucceffive 
 are, not only enjoys the difcoveries of the fore- 
 going, but adds ftill greater, and more valuable 
 ones of its own f ; fo it is probable, that the 
 knowledge of religion alone is not at a ftand; but 
 on the contrary, that as we continually advance 
 in the ftudy of God's "doorks, fo we fliall come to 
 a proportionably better underftanding of his 
 ivord: as by all thefe means human reafon is ftill 
 crowing more perfea; fo by the fame means, 
 
 divine 
 
 From fiicli texts as tl.efe Dr. Worthivgion infers that the kingdom 
 of Ch-ift will he an univerfrl ,l,,o<r^o; whereof that under the Jeim 
 watin fome refr.crts tvplcal ; Eff. 292, &c. - where there fl.all he 
 ^dv'n^l ,:.fJs, ,9- and obedience -.t^e gofpel precepts m 
 th'-ir UricUft fenfc; xog. and either an umvcrful language, or a per- 
 fcCl"K'c« ill fsith and worlhip, 308. 
 
 ' Bp B,<d'.,: \ See Part lu. 
 
 ~ 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 1 8 1 
 
 divine revelation will gradually clear up; and 
 ChrijVianity itfelf draw nearer to its fulnefs. 
 
 What is here fuppofed, has been remarkably 
 confirmed in fa6l fince the Reformation ; about 
 which time thofe tv/o extraordinary difcoveries of 
 printing *, and the ufe of the compafsy in Europe^ 
 jointly^'contributcd to the difperfion of learning, 
 and enlargment of com?nerce over the world ; and 
 at the fame time, gave a new publication of Chrijl- 
 ianity ; and in much greater purity, than it had 
 been in before, for many centuries. Ever fince 
 which time, all three have been continually gain- 
 ing ground. New light has been given to the 
 prophetic, and other moreabftrufe parts of fcrip- 
 ture, in every fucceffive age, and almoft by every 
 writer ; as a very able judge allures us f , The 
 grounds of our religion are in general much bet- 
 ter underftood, more clearly and rationally ex- 
 plained, and vindicated; and from what appears 
 at prefent, we have reafon to think, they will be 
 ftill more and more fo t. We may venture to fay, 
 
 that 
 
 * The great effea this had in carrying on the Reformauon may 
 be feen in Gerdes Hift. Evang. Sec. xvi. p. 5, &c. The want of it is 
 ftrongly fet forth by the ingenious V>T.Robertfony Hift. Ch. V . n. x. 
 ' The invention of the art of mv^dxig paper and of printing are two 
 confiderable events in literary hiftory. It is remarkable that the for- 
 mer preceded the firft dawning of letters, and improvement in knovy- 
 ledge towards the clofe of the nth century, the latter ulhered in 
 the light which fpread over Europe at the sra of the Reformation, 
 ib. p. 236. Comp. id. V. HI. p. 449, &c. 
 
 •j- Nexvion on Dan. c. i, 
 
 X ' At tandem, fuperiore prasfertim feculo et hoc nollro, cum 
 difciplinx omnes et qux pertinent ad antiquitatis linguarumque de- 
 mortuarum intelligentiam, et qus rerum ipfarum cognitionem tra- 
 dunt, et qus veri in quavis arte inveniendi ac exponendi rationem 
 docent, ad multo majorem perfeaionem addudae effent; antiquKnma 
 
 M 3 ^'-^ 
 
1 8 2 of the fever it I Dfpenfatlom 
 
 that in our own nation, there never were more 
 free and worthy notions of God, and his provi- 
 dence; nor v/ere the defigns, and various difpen- 
 fations of rehgion ever generally fo well undcr- 
 ftood as they are at prefent. Never was learning 
 and real knowledge fo fully and equally difperfed 
 among all parties, and profcffions of men. Nor 
 is there any feft, however wild and extravagant 
 it may have been at its firft fetting out, but evi- 
 dently partakes of thefe improvements. 
 
 And though, w^hile the minds of men are 
 warm and eager in the queft of truth; while they 
 
 are 
 
 51Ia ieli"ior,is divlnitus rcvclatx monuraenta multo melius explicari, 
 certiorate ex iis confectnria duci, capitaque omnia 1 hco^ogica 
 reaius t'adi ca-pen.nt. quam unquam antea ab uportoloruni xtate 
 faflum luerat. Qu"J '""l'" <:"'"'' contigiffet, f. mnjore. no^n ;u- 
 dicio fuo maluincnt uti quam alicno; neque enim ingenja dehufic 
 puw pofteriorib..s feculis, icd ar.em t'.unii.:.at, qua- mmia crc.qu.; 
 admuatione puoram orrrcffa jacecat. Quarc contign ■ncm hco- 
 lopi:c Chiilliana-, q.'od philofoplu^; qi.^ turn demum cum Iructu, 
 i,t'nar crat. cxculi tt p.rfici ccrpit, cum homines cc-pcre rec.rdar,, 
 fil,i rat^onem non minus cffc datam quam Jnjhteh ; excu<raque ad- 
 miralionc aniiquitaiis, dogmata ejus ad examcn revocare. Lt ■guui 
 qui nu'ac pulcherrima rccentiorum in philoloph.a invenia ot,)iv>cn, 
 mandari veilent, ul Ar,flouka dccreta lola uerum obtmcrcnt, ten-- 
 bras luci prxfcrrcneritocenferentur: ua qui mmc nos revocant 
 ad elcnenta ac prima veluti tentamina /«/<■«« Grscorum aut Lati- 
 -.lorum', plurifque ca fieri volunt quam qua; nunc fc.mujj u virum 
 id.iUx -tatis pertinaci Audio longaque expenent.a edodum, ad 
 
 Ur4r dvinilusnobh data, et nuper mirum ,« mcaum auBa, rn.nuirc Mque 
 info'dere omui oie «/«;;/«'•. Sj!od ab Us fcfci »ec Dcus, ucc homva,fi>,a,t, 
 /o;:cc in aUquo tin-arum angulo iMrae et 'vernatu amor 'v.gcbunt Clcru. 
 
 l)krt. ii. feci, 1 3. I'roleg. ad Comment, p. 28. wiA Ibbot . B Led. 
 Part ii. Scrm. iv-. p. i IQ- and laaant.i^^ O: ig. Err. L. ... fta. , . 
 To which may be added Wcttoa't. Two excellent chapters on the 
 Phikl. and rhecl. l^^ning of the W..« Refl^c 28 and 29- and 
 Wortl^-n^yton'^ Eflay, c. 8. and Uohtim, EccL Hift. Cent. 17. I. i. 
 XXV &c. 8vo. How much all ufeful learning .s indebted to the 
 Gofpel may be fecn in >r.'/«'5 Charge upon that Subjeft, Difc. V. 7 • 
 
 ^ 
 
 vf Revealed Religion, i S 3 
 
 are in continual agitation, and daily teeming with 
 new inventions ; many monfters will fpring up 
 (as may naturally enough be expefted) together 
 with it- and ftrange errors and abfurdities be ad- 
 vanced,' in fuch full freedom of enquiry, and de- 
 bate; and though this increafe of knowledge be 
 attended with an increafe of libeitimfm, and 
 extravagance of all kinds ; and an evil fpint of 
 infidelity, and profancnefs, be at the fame time 
 gone abroad; yet is this neither fo uncommon, or 
 unconformable to the courfe of Divine Providence 
 in otker refpeds. as to make us defpair of feeing 
 it attended with the ufual confequences : we have 
 itill reafon to truft, that when truth and know- 
 ledge have once fully got the better of error and 
 fuperftition, this fpirit of reformation will at 
 length reform, and reftify itfelf ; and we ftall 
 have more and more of the true life and fpirit of 
 our religion, as we draw nearer to thofe times, 
 wherein the fure word of prophecy has fixed its 
 
 reign. , .„. ■ • 
 
 I am far from imagining that Chnjltamty is yet 
 
 come to its mature ftate ; that it is underftood in 
 the whole extent, or held in its utmoft purity and 
 perfedion, by any particular church *. But, as 
 when it was firft preached, men were fit to hear 
 
 and 
 
 . . It will not be thought any Imputation °"f ;;^7^|}>„t'red" 
 
 ixSX"S;;rfX' xs' SS^ to 
 rtr huScSth ^^^^i^H 
 
 o admit of farther impn>vements. ""any of wfaK^egan w be u^ 
 tivated long before the commencement of Cj-,//;^/^). rr 
 ^„,/W«j/./sEffay. p. 7. Com^- Burnet, ^^ Fid. et Off. c. 5. p. 
 c. 8. p. 177. Boihmir, Jus Eccl. Proteftant. p. 21, 8^=- 
 
 M 4 
 
/ 1 
 
 V, 
 
 i 
 
 184 Ofde fever al Difpenfations 
 
 and profit by it in a competent degree (as we have 
 fhewn as that was a very proper time to divulge 
 it, in order to improve the world, which it did 
 very confiderably f, excelling all former difpen- 
 fations of religion, and fyftems of fciencej refin- 
 \n^ the notions, even of thofe who did not form- 
 ally receive it *' ; and yet was itfelf for fome while 
 but partially communicated j, and very imper- 
 feaiy underftood : fo now, 'tis of much greater 
 advantage to the world in general -, and yet Ibll 
 capable of increafe; it waits for its own fulncfs: 
 nor {hall mankind receive the proper influence, 
 and r.dvantage of it, till their minds be much far- 
 ther opened; their reafou more fully cxercifed, 
 in this grs^at myfery of divine love. 
 
 We cannot but be fenfible, that the fcriptures 
 are \ ery far from being thoroughly underftood by 
 
 us, 
 
 f See Bp. Gihfon's 2d Pall. Lett, or JVcrthhgtonh Eflay, c. 7. 
 * This is very vifible in the writings of thofe philolbphcrs \^\\o 
 cam- after its promulgation, as EpU'tctus, Arrian, Plutarch, Max -y >- 
 rius, ana more efpcciaily Antoninus, who is well acquainteJ with the 
 €hri(lianVixX^zoiHu7nility, among many others, and frequently in- 
 fills r^cn it. The like may be obferved of Porphyry and Hierodts, 
 rSee'pafrages in Burmt, de Fid. et Off, p. 29] as alfo of W.., 
 v/hQiTi fevcral ancient writers eReemed almoft, if not altogether ^ 
 Chrlftlan, [See 7.;;fi's method of fettling the Canon, 1 ait 111. c.12. 
 iz^i 'K 1 The fike obfervation is made, with great julticc, on their 
 f:riJl}di-votion, h^Jortin, Difc. p. 228, 229. and an inrtance^ddcd 
 'by Dn Oiven, [D. L. f. 23.] from Arrian, L. n. c 7. where he fays 
 the words xvc^^i t>.:-,crcv. were taken from the Chnftian^church, and 
 a io'Ued by the wife^ Gentiles. Tov ^:ov £TTixx>.ii(/.ivoi dBoai^xccvre, 
 'xv'^ i?:"Jr.v Doum invorantcs, precamur eum. Domine mircrere 
 no'h-i The fame thin- h owned by the emperor Juh^n, in his ex- 
 cellent advice for a reformation in thdr philofophy, by taking m 
 the Chr{/rh!n morals. Ep. ad Ar/ac. 49. Vid. CW, Introd. p 32,&c. 
 ):,:-, p: Lea. f->l' lea. 12. p. IM. 7f///vv/;, Part 111. c. 5. p. 3«o. 
 Conip'.U^ii^fyf I Cor. XV. ^^. ^ 1 r .1 j 
 
 t Sec the feveral periods of thi. communication accurately fctUed 
 i>yVi^ a'thor of .Vel. Sr.c. in liis abllr.d of the Sac. liiih and Prcf. 
 y. 14, Sec 
 
 [ 
 
 1 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 185 
 
 US," who are of fo reformed a church -, live under 
 fuch an excellent government; and m this en- 
 lightened age; not even thofe parts of them 
 which treat of paft ftates, and difpenfations ; much 
 lefs thofe which regard futurity. How long is it 
 fince men were fo very ignorant of its doannes, 
 as to fix that horrid one of al>fclute reprobation, 
 upon St.PWhimfelf ? and it is to be feared, that 
 almoft as hard things are yet believed of him, and 
 other infpired writers. We are ftill apt to confine 
 the gofpel of our Lord, as his primitive difciples 
 fometime did, to particular nations, churches, 
 feds, opinions*; to contend vehemently, either 
 about things in their own nature abftrufe and 
 difficult to be underftood, and therefore not ne- 
 ceflary to be determined ; or elfe fuch lighter 
 matters, as the ceremonies, circumftances, and 
 outward forms of its adminiftration f ; inftead 
 
 of 
 
 • ' It has been the common difeafe of Chriftians from the begin, 
 nine, not M content themfelves with that meafure of faith which 
 Golandthe fcriptures have exprefsly afforded us; but out of a vam 
 defire to know more than is revealed, they have attempted todifcufs 
 things of which we can have no light, neither from reafon nor re- 
 velafion : neither have they refted here ; but upon F";"/;°f "^^"/^f I 
 authority, which is none; or tradition, which for the moft part is 
 bu figment; they have preremptorily concluded, and confidently 
 impofed upon others, a neceffity of entertaining conclufions of thai- 
 nature : and to ftrengthen themfelves, have broken out in o divif.ons 
 and faaions, oppofing man to man fynod to fynod, till the peace 
 of the Church vani(h?d, without all poflibil.ty of recal.' J. //^/... 
 of Schifm, p. .80. Comp. Bcelmer, Diff. Pr^elim. ad Jus Eccl. Pro- 
 tellant. fed. 22, &c. 
 
 + « The emperor Jujliman, fays Job, Clauhergius, in his Inflitu- 
 tions, did us the fervice, and himfelf the honour, by abrogating the 
 fcruDulous obfervation of ftarcht fubtil forms and niceties, to reduce 
 the iludy, and pradiceof the law to its native fimphcity and plain- 
 Hcfs. It would be happy for the Chi iftian world, could it hnd a 
 man who would do io much in favour of theology ; who, rejeamg 
 
1 8 6 Of the Several Difpenfations 
 
 of explaining and recommending the true nature, 
 end, and defign of itj of being intent upon en- 
 larging its real kingdom ; and takmg care to 
 maintain thofe works, which are intrinfically ^ooi 
 and zvtt profitable unto men * ; inftead of attend- 
 ing to that more excellent 'way, which the fame 
 blelfed apoftle fhewed us f ; that bond of perfeB- 
 nefs which he has fo earncftly exhorted us to put 
 on above all things + ; which he has taught us 
 to efteem above dX\ faith, and knowledge; and even 
 the beft miraculous gifts. . 
 
 But though tlie face of Chriftianity be ftiU mi- 
 ferably darkened, and defoi'med, (of which more 
 below i) though fome nations feem to be m their 
 
 child" 
 
 li-Jgious intricacies, needlefs -"ofitle. and va^n ni«t;« 
 
 ,t xn Its ancient m«jcltic P""jX-,. '- '. , ^al controverfies were 
 ten-.ptcd under ^^^^^l^ll^^^^.'.^^J^-^^X,., M n.t concern 
 feparatedfrom 7' ;/"'^ '" 'diftinSed from what Hi; a multi- 
 the quenion m debate, ^ '^'"'"g"'; j-j j. jjut this is rather 
 tude of difputations would be ,or ever >"="';'-"• . i-„ent the 
 to be wl(hed, than expeaed - -' .^JV^^ ^j^! X^^^ 
 faults of our age, than to reprove them '^ P£{'''°^yj^l Stoll. In- 
 p.i6. a book well worth reading mE>,glMJ- Uc quo via. 
 
 trod, ad Hiit. Lit. P- 57'- _ , j^^ in all nations, and in 
 
 CW'-' «">^y °f '^""/\'>;v'^'"r^;r xvHi Vol VI 8vo. ' And 
 is the bo,J cfpcrfiPMs.' tlark, ^^^^ j^"'';(.;^^'„f cbrhf, there ne- 
 
 yct among thof. -^-'^^^^''^ ^^^J^''^^,'^^^^^^ Chri.l- 
 
 ver was the Icall room f''' f 'P"'X ?ivin"' ever been baptized into 
 ians, at all tunes, and ,n all ^^'^^^^^,^on to obey the 
 Che profefi>on of f^ '-^ /^^^^Z^. that ail the contentions 
 fame """•■'''"''i^'.'-^;/^,, iiian wodd, have been merely about the 
 that ever arofe m ''^,<-''"' '" naVtv indired contradiilion ta 
 feveral a.l.Um.., -'h'f^f.^^^^'^Xr^huv'e endeavoured prefumptu- 
 
 tv,7ot n«^r 5,:;;:-;: ^'lw, to .. ^.... and to .. 
 
 t 
 
 
 V 
 
 oj Revealed Religion. i ^7 
 
 childhood yet, and cannot receive it; and others 
 grow fo vicious, as to be rather inclined torejeft 
 it : though in fome ages it feems to have been 
 quite hid in darknefs, and funk under ignorance 
 and fuperftition; in others, borne down with the 
 torrent of lewdnefs, and libertinifm : though like 
 the fea, it have its ebbs and flows, and leave fome 
 lands, to gain on others ; nay, though fometimes 
 it feem to be at a general ftand; and even re- 
 treating: yet, neverthelefs, we have reafon to 
 conclude that upon the whole, its motion is pro- 
 greffive ; and that each very lett tends, in the main, 
 to accelerate this progrefs (as was obferved in 
 the beginning;) that its power is ftill vifibly, or 
 invifibly, enlarging over the world ; and that it 
 will always go on to do fo, till the kingdom of 
 Chrif be fully come; till it be within us, and 
 known by all, from the leaft to the greateft; till 
 the everlafting gofpel * go forth, and be fo tho - 
 roughly underftood and embraced, as to bring 
 on ihefulnefs of the Gentiles; and by their means, 
 the reftoration of God's own people the Jews-, 
 as he has often foretold f; and fo the whole earth 
 fiall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the wa- 
 ters cover the fea %. 
 
 From 
 
 • Rtv. xiv. 6. 
 
 t See the texts above, note (t) p. 179, i?o. Many more to the 
 fame purpofe are colleded in a note to Part n. c 1 1 . p. i b;. toi. ot 
 KtJr^s Dem. To which may be added, JVhitby App. to Comm on 
 Rom,xu andTreatireonthetrueM/7/^«.c.z. ^«r/;^/, App. de btat, 
 Mort. Worthingto?es Effay, p. 295. "Taylor on Rom. xi. 26 p 344. 
 Lonvth on />•. xi. , , . Comp. Jortin, Rem on E. H. Vol lU. p. 
 423, &c. ^nd Hcillef, Vol. III. Difc. x. ^nd If crtkng.^cn, B. Leit. ^. 
 14. fin. 
 
 X I/, xi. 9. HaL xi. 14. 
 
c 
 
 1 8 8 Of the fever al Dfpe? fat ions 
 
 From the whole we have reafon to conclude, 
 that the objeftion mentioned in the beginning of 
 thefe difcourfes, is abfolutcly groundlefs ; — that 
 there is nothing in the time, and manner of the 
 Chriftian difpenfation, inconliftcnt with infinite 
 wifdom and goodnefs : — that God is by no means 
 partial, or arbitrary in the diftribution of his blefT- 
 ings ; but at all times takes care of all mankind ; — 
 and that this great fchenie of levelation was con- 
 trived and carried on, in the belt manner, for the 
 world in general', which ought chiefly to be re- 
 garded by us, as it is in the eye of our common 
 Father. When we come to particular ages, and 
 nations, it is the fame as with particular perfons ; 
 the fame benefits are not, cannot be confcjTed on 
 all; and the difpenfations of religion are perfeftly 
 analogous to thofe of providence in the conflant 
 courfe of both the natural, and the moral world ; 
 and thefe perhaps are capable of being (hewn 
 to be the beft upon the whole ; as may in part 
 appear from the former difcourfe-. If Chrifl 
 was to come once for all, he muft appear in fome 
 particular time, and place; which couki not be 
 equally near to all the fucceffive generations cf 
 mankind; nor could all have the fame privi- 
 leges, of feeing and converfing with him in tlie 
 flefh ; and as they are hhfed who have not feen, 
 and yet behcved; io are they too, mofl undoubt- 
 edly, (though perhaps in a lower degree) vA\o 
 having not fo mucli as heard of Chrifiy are yet 
 
 in 
 
 • Sec this more at large in Bp. Buth\ Analogy, Part ii. c 
 6, &c. 
 
 I 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 1 8 9 
 
 In a good meafure qualified to receive his dodrine, 
 were it delivered to them. 
 
 The great fcheme of our redemption in Chrijl, 
 was laid before the world began f; and if we 
 take the account which Scripture gives of its de- 
 fign, we fhall find the greatefl of its benefits ex- 
 tended to all mankind; namely, the covenant for 
 reftoring the whole pofterity of Adam, to that im- 
 mortality which he forfeited. "The Gift of God 
 is eternal life, through Jefus Chrijl our LordX. 
 Or, eternal life is not in any refpea a property 
 of our own nature, as derived from Adam ; but 
 an additional privilege conferred by God, as the 
 purchafe of our Saviour and Redeemer Chrijt. 
 Death was aklijhed, and life, and ificorruptibility'^y 
 or a life in incorruption |1 , fixed in the divine 
 decrees from the beginning, in view of Chrifl's 
 future ranfom § ; though not fo fully brought to 
 light, or publifhed to the world in general, till 
 the adual accomplifhment of it by him, in our 
 
 own nature. 
 
 As to any particular privileges that can be 
 fuppofed to be annexed to the bare belief in 
 him, or explicit profelTion of it ; we have rea- 
 
 fon 
 
 + Eth, i. 4. Col. 1. 26. Tit. i. 2. 1 Pet. I. 20. 
 
 1 RoLvi.zv Comp. V. 15. and//^//./'sObfervat.yoL I. p.326, 
 &C. or Layton'sTv^^s, in 2 Volumes 410. which contain an anfwer to 
 all that was wrote in defence of the natural Immortality in that au- 
 
 thor's time. . , , , .^ , ^ v,. ^-, 
 
 ♦ A?)^«^^»«, 2 Ti'm. i. 10. /. e. of the body raifed, i C^:f'S^' 
 That the Cbrijian revelation of immortality lays the chief, if not the 
 whole ftrefs 011 ^refurreaion, is plain from the texts cited to that 
 purpofc by Bevfon on i TUfiw. 13. See more in the lall Difcourfe. 
 
 II I Cor. XV. 42, 5 ^^ 54- ^vhere the fame word is ufed.^ 
 . I Matt. XX, 28. Mark x. 4^ Aas xv. II, 18. Gal. 111. 17. Epb. 
 1.4. ir/Av. ii. 5,6. zTim.i.^. H.'6.ix.iS' i^^^i.20. Rev. 
 ^'iii. 8. 
 
J go Of the fever al Difpenfatlons 
 
 fon to think, that no lefs were enjoyed by thofe 
 good men of old, who by the dim light of pro- 
 phecy, or tradition, beheld his day, and rejoiced 
 in it; who faw thefe promifes afar off, and were 
 perfuaded of them, and embraced them || . Faith in 
 him to come was the fame, in proportion to the 
 evidence, as in him paft; and mult be equally me- 
 ritorious §. Nor have we any reafon to doubt, 
 but that the fame benefits, in kind at leaft, what- 
 ever they be, might accrue from a pious prefigu- 
 ration of his death, with a lively faith, mfacr't- 
 fee; as now do from remembering it, in the fame 
 manner, in his holy fupper. So far then it might 
 be the fame whenever he came. 
 
 And whenever we fpeak of the Chrijlian fcheme 
 
 being abfolutely ftecejfary fofahation*, we Ihould 
 
 Mnder&?ind fahation in the fcripture fenfe of that 
 
 word ; as implying a particular fate of happi- 
 
 nefs ; or as the Chriftian's heaven f ; not as the 
 
 fole condition of enjoying everlafting life-, or as 
 
 necelTary, in all men, to the avoiding abfolute 
 
 miferyj or efcaping the pains of hell. He has 
 
 told us, that in his Father's houfe are many man- 
 
 fions; ftates fuited to every degree of hollnefs, and 
 
 virtue: and as it often appears that men under 
 
 vei7 different difpenfations here, differ but almoft 
 
 infenfibly from each other, in the abovemention- 
 
 ed 
 
 11 K'3. xi. 13. GaLxn.Z- _ t a 
 
 \ See Denne'^ Serm. Prop. G. p. 53. &=• ^' ^nlliams, B. Left 
 fol. fea. 8. p. 232, 233- 
 
 • Pag- 4'- 
 
 t Sec Rymcrh Rcprefcnt.of Rev. Rel p. loj. or JVbitij on Rom, 
 
 ii. 14* 
 
 .>.»> 
 
 cf Revealed Religion. igt 
 
 ed qualifications ; can we conceive, that their 
 flates of retribution ftiall be fo infinitely different 
 hereafter, as thofe of heaven, and hell, are com- 
 monly believed to be? No doubt, there are great 
 advantages, and fure promifes, belonging to thofe, 
 who have been fo happy as to be included in the 
 Chriftian covenant; and hold it in faith, and pu- 
 rity. But let not fuch exclude others from the 
 mercies of their common Lord ; or murmur at 
 the good man of the houfe, if thefe alfo receive every 
 man his penny J. Whether they Ihall not fome- 
 time hereafter l>e called into the vineyard, and at 
 length become acquainted with that perfon who 
 has done fo great things for them, as well as 
 us II ; or what amends may be made them for 
 the want of thofe advantages which we here en- 
 joy ; is known only to that God of all mercies, 
 in whofe hands they are. What our Saviour faid 
 of the Gentiles, in contradiftinftion to the Jews, 
 may be no lefs true perhaps between Chrifians, 
 and the reft of the world, that never heard of 
 Chrift, but yet are prepared to enter, and in a 
 good meafure worthy to be admitted into his 
 kingdom ; — who have duly attended to that candle 
 of the Lord, which is fet up in the breaft of every 
 man ; and which would naturally lead fuch to the 
 clearer light of his gofpel ; — other feep I have, 
 which are not of this fold; them alfo Imuft bring, and 
 they fall bear my voice ; and there fall be one fold 
 
 and 
 
 \ Matt. XX. 
 
 II See Srai«ci's Enquiry Into the State of thofe men in another 
 life, who never heard of C/:r!/l in this, from Rt-v, xx. 
 
1 92 Of the federal Difpenfations 
 
 and 'one ppherd"^. To them likewife at length 
 may the times of refrejhing come, from the pre fence of 
 the Lord f . — However, the cafe of fuch will un- 
 doubtedly be very different from that of thofe, 
 who frequently, and perverfely, rejeSl the counfelof 
 God cigainfi themfehes-y refolved to truft to their 
 own ftrength, and going about to ejlablip their own 
 right eoufnefs -, and not fubinitting themf elves unto the 
 righteoufnefs of God %. 
 
 To conclude with our bleffed Saviour's admo- 
 nition in a like cafe ||, If I will, that he tarry till I 
 come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 
 
 Let us inftead of judging others, or haftily de- 
 termining of their ftate; take care to fet a due 
 value on, and to fecure our own falvation : inftead 
 of charging God fooliftily, and ungratefully, for 
 not having imparted the fame benefits to all, 
 which we enjoy; let us rather be giving him con- 
 tinual thanks for his unfpeakable Gift, and en- 
 deavouring to employ it to his glory. Let us be 
 intent on ftudying the pure word of God ; and 
 careful to interpret it in fuch a manner, as may 
 do moft honour to its author ; and at all times 
 encourage a free and an impartial ftudy of it §. 
 
 Tis 
 
 * Job, X. 16. Comp. Matt. viii. 1 1 . and huh xiii. 29. 
 t Aas iii. 19. Comp. Rom.\\\u 22. 
 
 T Rom X ^ II T^^*^ ^x^* ^^* 
 
 \ BenL\ note on the lafl verfe of 2 Pet, iii. is fo very appofite to 
 the cafe in hand, that I cannot avoid citing fome part of it. This 
 may reprove thofe flothful Proteftants, who will not read the fcrip- 
 tures, with that care and attention, which is requifite to the under- 
 itanding of them : - and much more thofe, who are profeffed ene- 
 mies toencreafinr; knowledge; who would have all "^^ ^ifcovenes 
 carefully fupprcflbd; and would have Chr,ftians fteddily adhei^ to 
 the articks and trr^itions received from their fallible forefathers 
 i. i. We aw never tft gain more knowledge, never (by any means) to 
 
 grow 
 
 of Revealed Religion . 1 9 ^ 
 
 'Tis now high time to do this, and to awake out 
 of deep, fince our reformation is much nearer than 
 when we firft believed : and it is to be wiflied, 
 that we ourfelves could be perfuaded to examine 
 
 our 
 
 grow wifen Whereas, what reafon can be afligned, why we fhould 
 not rejedt the millakes of our forefathers, as they rcjeded thofe of 
 the church oi Rome, and of their forefathers ? They who are afraid of 
 new lighty and increafing knowledge, fcem to betray a bad caufe, and 
 to be confcious that their opinions will not fland the tell of a fevere 
 examination. And they plainly contradift this advice, or direftion 
 of St. Piter, But groiv in grace, and in the kno^uoledge of our Lord and 
 Saviour ye/us ChriJ}, * 
 
 Some excellent rules for ftudying the holy fcriptures, may be found 
 in Jefferfs, Difcourfcs on 2 Tim. iii. 1 5, 16, 17. Take the following 
 fpecimen of his tafte and temper. * \^ to this [the hiftory of the 
 occajion of each difcourfe in the cpijilesi be added fome literal rsLther 
 than dodrinal expofition ; and men come to the word of God to 
 fetch their religious opinions from thence, and do not, for the go- 
 verning the fenfe of the fcriptures, bring their opinions with them 
 thiiher ; this, with an honefl and good heart, will help men to un- 
 derftand the truths of God, and the truths of religion. And he that 
 is thus taught of God, being the difciple of him and his Son, (hall 
 have an idja of religion moft pure and divine.' — Trafts, Vol. II, p. 
 259. * This would appear fully to every judicious Chriftian, if the 
 folly of men had not mixed itfelf with the wifdom of God ; and the 
 doftrine of Chrillianity had been preferved in the original purity 
 and fimplicity, with which it was delivered by the Divine Author, 
 and fuch as it is ftill in the divine records which arc the ftandard there- 
 of. What thefe mixtures and adulterations of the dodrine of religion 
 arc, which have prevailed in any place or age, need not be named to 
 him, who is refolved to anfwer the charader of a difciple of Chrift, 
 and to admit nothing for Chriftianity or any part of it, but what is 
 taught of God. And if, with this caution, men enquire after the 
 truth, as it is in Jefus, they ftiall eafily find it in the holy fcriptures, 
 without any alloy : though it be never fo hard to find it any where 
 elfe. If after fuch inquiry and information, the man has judgment 
 to difcern the differences that are between one part of religion and 
 another ; as before he did difcern the differences that are between 
 one part of the holy fcriptures and another ; he (hall eftablifh fuch 
 a notion of religion, and fuch a method of ftudying it, that no fe- 
 ducer can alienate him from his religion; no time can make him 
 weary of fearching into it. He will find an entertainment to his 
 mind for ever in the contempUtion of God, according to the mani- 
 feftations he has made of himfelf in his word, and by his works : 
 and the employment of heaven, which will be eternal, is happily 
 begun on earth. Happy is the man, who hath from his youth been 
 accLltomcd to this exercife! his improvement will be great, and his 
 end bleffed.' ib. p, 260. 
 
 N 
 
194 Of the feveral Difpenfations 
 
 our own ftate, before others are obliged to do it 
 for us*; that we were difpofed to help and for- 
 ward, rather than clieck the progrcfs of every fe- 
 rious enquiry; and ftop any farther improve- 
 ments in the knowledge of that, which of all 
 things defei-ves, and wants them moft f; rather 
 than withftand a general reformation in religion, 
 by rigoroufly infifting on, and obtruding fuch 
 things for doftrine, as are the commandments of 
 men, and very foreign to the effence of it ; inftead 
 of either entertaining that antichriftian kind of 
 fpirit, which calls down fire from heaven on all 
 who don't receive us ; which delights in ftraiten- 
 ing the way that leads to life, and (hutting up the 
 kingdom of heaven againfl: men ; or incurring 
 the woe denounced againft thofe hypocrites, who 
 are defuous of lading men with heavy burdens, 
 and binding upon them things which are too 
 
 grievous 
 
 Is it not a ftanding argument that Religion has been too much 
 '. . .. . ■° -v.- .1.. u.j„«ffk»n»r<ru have never re- 
 
 •» < 
 
 confined in all countrief, that the body of the Clergy have never re- 
 formed themfelves; and that all Reformations have ever been forced 
 upon them and haU generally been attended with the moft homble 
 perfecutions, and dangerous convulfions in the ftate ? Priefthy on 
 
 ^'+ ?ThVnTxTftep t'oi^rds the increafe of Chrift's kingdom muft 
 1« a farther improvement of Chriftianity, and of thofe who receive 
 ^d proofs it The church of Rom is not the only church .that 
 wants amendment. Other Chriftian focieties, which have feparated 
 ThemfeWes from her, and from her groffer defeSs are departed more 
 or ki ftom the original fimpUcity of the gofpel, and have m.iced 
 fome do^rine» of men with the word of God and fo ftand in need of 
 W improvement. It i, therefore to be hoped, that a time will 
 come when religion will have a fairer and a more alluring afpcft . 
 then Chriftians\ill be united, not in opinion as to all theological 
 Toinu for that i. impofllble, whilft men are men; but that they 
 ITube united in benevolence ^uJ ch.-.rity, in in.ercomnmmon and 
 in one common u„<i Jlmfle prcJ\jJ,o« of f.ith.' JorU,,'. K'.-mark on E. 
 H. Vol. III. p. 445- Comp U Cla^. excellent Book, de ehj^endl 
 inter diffentientesChriftiauos kMW.y^> =ni.c.xcd i'.« l.ir hd. ot .nu 
 tieVer. Rel.Chrift. 
 
 'J 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 of Revealed Religion. 195 
 
 grievous to be borne ; and which they know, that 
 none need touch with one of their fingers *. 
 
 As we fee the faults and follies of paft ages, a 
 double woe will be to us, if, inftead of taking 
 warning by them, and avoiding the like s we are 
 refolved to tread the fame iteps, and fill up the 
 meafure of our fathers. 
 
 Let us, who have leifure given us for this very 
 purpofe, think on thefe things, and ftudy to dif- 
 cern the figm of the times ; that we may be pre- 
 pared for them, and profit by them : that we may 
 not only fave ourfelves in the day of trouble, but 
 alfo contribute to the fafety oi o\xv Jerufakm -, and 
 be ready to v/atch over and defend it, whenever, 
 or from what quarter foever, the enemy cometh. 
 
 As we live in a more enlightened age, and are 
 intruftcd with a greater fhare of talents ; let us 
 be perfuaded to walk worthy of it, and endea- 
 vour to excel others as much in our improve- 
 ments. Above all things let us labour to bring 
 forth the genuine fruits of our religion, in true 
 holinefs and virtue ; and daily draw nigh unto 
 God, in the imitation of his 7noral perfeBions j 
 which is the fum and fubftance, the end and aim, 
 of all religion. 
 
 • Mati. xxiii. Luke \\. ' That religion which has no goodnefs, 
 has no truth in it : for the religion, which God has given us, is en- 
 tirely for our good. Sobriety is good; for the individual in the firit 
 inftance, and for the fociety in the fecond. Righteoufmfs is good ; 
 for the fociety in the Hrft inllancc, and for the individual m the fe- 
 cond. GoMinefs is good for both ; as it enforces fobriety and righ- 
 teoufncfs; and as it engages the proteflion of the fupreme Gover- 
 nour of the world. There is nothing in Chriftianity but thefe ; and 
 what is fubfervient to thcc: .na fuch a religion none who under- 
 ftand their own good, and wifh v.cli to others, can either be defiroud 
 or willing to be difcharged from.* J^Jfery on PhiL i. lO. Vol. II. p. 
 380. a piece well worthy the perufmg. 
 
 N2 Part 
 
K 
 
 Part IIL 
 
 The PROGRESS of 
 
 Natural Religion and Science, 
 
 OR 
 
 The continual Improvement of the 
 
 Tf^orld in General. 
 
 Antiquity lunfeignedly honour and reverence \ hit why IJhouldbe 
 bound to reverence the ruji and refufe^ the drofs and dregs y the 
 warts and wens thereof^ I am yet tofeek. — Js in the little fo in 
 the great worlds reafon will tell you^ that old age^ or antiquity ^ is 
 to be accounted by the farther diftancefrom the beginnings and the 
 nearer approach to the end : and as grey beards are for wifdom and 
 judgement to be preferred before young green heads^ becaufe they 
 have more experience in affairs ; fo likewifefor the fame caufe^ the 
 prefent times are to be preferred before the infancy or youth of the 
 worlds having the hiflory andpra^ice of former ages -to inform us, 
 which they wanted,— In difgracing the prefent times therefore, ym 
 difgrace antiquity properly fo tailed. 
 
 Hakewill, Apol. Bookv. p.133. 
 
 Certainly evety Medicine /; an Innovation ; and he that will not 
 apply new Reviedies mufl expc^ new Evils : for time is the great efi 
 Innovator : and if Time of courfe alter things for the worfe^ 
 and Wijdomand Council Jhall not* labour to alter them for the bet* 
 ter^ what will be the end? B a c on, EIT. xxiv. 
 
 N3 
 
i^ 
 
 
 The Progrefs of 
 
 Natural Religion and Science, 
 
 OR 
 
 The continual Improvement of the 
 
 World in general 
 
 ECCLES. VII. lo. 
 
 5^y not thou. What is the caufe that the former dap 
 \oere better than thefe? for thou dofi not enquire 
 wifely concerning this. 
 
 TH E badnefs of the times, has been a com- 
 mon topic of complaint in every age j and 
 that they are growing worfe and worfe contmu. 
 ally, is what fome perfons think themfelves ob- 
 liged to infiftupon, with no lefs vehemence j how 
 hard foever they find it to account for this m any 
 refpea. The former of thefe arguments, if urg- 
 ed only to expofe and give a check to fome pai- 
 ticular, predominant vices, (for which indeed all 
 ages have afforded too much room) may be ot 
 conftant ufe, and often neceffary. But when the 
 latter is added to it, and both carried fo far as to 
 make us difcontented, and uneafy with ourfelves, 
 
 N 4 and 
 
200 
 
 T'he Progrefs of 
 
 and troublefome to one another ; — to fet us a 
 quarrelling with the ftation, and fociety, in which 
 we are placed; — a murmuring at, and fpeaking 
 evil of the government we live under; — defpif- 
 ing every human dominion, and even repining at 
 the condu6l of divine Providence; and miftaking 
 the iffue of its difpenfations to fuch a degree as 
 muft confound our judgment, and unhinge our 
 faith in the unlimited goodnefs, power, and wif- 
 dom of their Author: — then, 'tis high time to 
 correft an error of this kind, and enquire into 
 the true ftate, and hiftory of the world, in the 
 above-mentioned particular. 
 
 In order to which, I purpofe in the firft place, 
 
 I. To fhew the falfity of this complaint in fe- 
 veral refpecls. 
 
 II. Secondly, To point out fome of its ill con- 
 fequences; which may be fufficient to juftify the 
 Preacher's obfervation in the text, viz. that this 
 way of judging is no very wife one. 
 
 The defign of the book from which thefe 
 words are taken, was to examine into the courfe 
 of this world in general ; to confider the nature 
 of its enjoyments, and the ends propofed in our 
 purfuit of them. No one faw farther into thefe 
 things, or better underftood their real value; none 
 perhaps had a mind more elevated, and refined 
 above them ; or could in a more lively manner, 
 difplay the vanity and emptinefs thereof on fome 
 occafions, than king Solomon \ yet, where he meets 
 with thofe perfons who treat the fubjecl fo very in- 
 judicioufly, as both to difparage the works of God, 
 
 by 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 201 
 
 by reprefenting them to be ever going backward, 
 and on the decline; and to diftrad the minds of 
 men, by teaching them to undervalue, and grow 
 weary of the prefent benefits, through an invidi- 
 ous retrofpeft to former days : — when things are 
 placed in fuch a light as this, we find him abfo- 
 lutely difapproving of the view, and all thofe 
 queftions which arife from thence; intimating, 
 that the very foundation of them is not true in 
 
 faft. 
 
 To make this appear more fully, let us confi- 
 der fome of the advantages of life, both natural 
 and acquired ; in order to fee, whether there be 
 any figns that thefe are now difpenfed in a lefs 
 liberal way than formerly; or whether the reverfe 
 is not more probable. 
 
 As to the fruitfulnefs of the earth, and cle- 
 mency of feafons ; the temperature of the air, and 
 influence of heavenly bodies ; the vulgar miftake 
 of their decay, and tendency to diffblution, has> 
 I think, long fince been exploded *• 
 
 Whatever might have been the employment of 
 man, had he continued innocent ; (who muft have 
 been originally defigned for fome employment, 
 
 fince 
 
 * A fufficient confutation of it may be feen m ^^f^'^^.^P^^' 
 pafllm. There is a little book wrote on the fame fubjed by Jo. 
 "fonftonus, a Polander, and entitled de Natur^^ ^'"-^T\^,ti£r 
 isL which contain, fome valuable obfervations though the author 
 owns that his work is chiefly extraded from Hakeavill, p. l6o. 
 
 That fome climates are more mild and temperate novv^ v<}^^ 
 
 ^ere in former times, See ^-'^^^^^f V^^^^^V rV'^nf V i and 
 Add Phil. Tranf. V. 58. No. 9. and American P. ^ra^f. V. 1. and 
 That this is chiefly owing to the lands bemg better cultivated, may 
 be feen in Obfern^ations on the Statutes, p. I'89» and 32 1. 2 . £.(1. 
 though not entirely fo. See Phil. Tranf. above. 
 
202 ^^^ Progrefs of 
 
 fmce we find Adam himfelf not exempted from 
 the care of drejing, and keeping that fpot of ground 
 in which he was placed*;) upon his fall, a ftate of 
 toil and labour became neceffary; in order to fe- 
 cure the virtue, health, and quiet of the fpecier, 
 in any tolerable degree f : on which account the 
 earth is reprefented as lying under an extraordi- 
 nary curfe, of barrennefs ; which has been gene- 
 rally thought to have continued, and received 
 confiderable addition at the deluge; and very phi- 
 lofophical reafons were affigned for this opinion t; 
 till of late a learned prelate || (hewed us from the 
 circumftances of the hiftory, that the direct con- 
 ti-ary was fad §. ^For fome time after, the lon- 
 ge^'itv of mankind was very neceffary, for peo- 
 rlins the world, and learning arts**j though I 
 i " Ihould 
 
 + fee' Li's' Origin of Evil. p. 172- note 33 4"'- Ed- an^ the 
 ,atl,ors thert referred to. To wLch add Worthingtcn^^ May on 
 
 ^'l^Setthem collefted in Vniv. Hiji. Vol I. p. 106. 
 
 5 Bp. SberM, Ufe and Intent of Proph. D.fc iv. Comp. mr- 
 thingicTi on the fame fubjea, Eff. p. 84, &c. 
 
 t The Preat fertility of the earth immediately after the deluge, is 
 ^hat fomf thiri, gave rife to the llories of the GoUe. J^' ^""S the 
 
 Poets * 
 
 ' , (umfruges tellus inarata ferebat, 
 
 /-;... on Gen ^ 2- Cum pauci effent homines in terns, necelle 
 
 fit p^re^tes iiu'vivere, u^iberis fuis auxilio effent, «fe contra 
 
 feras ^aUaque vic« incommoda. una tutarentur : ahoqu. fi parentes 
 
 rtne liberos impuberes orbos reliquiffent, aut ea itate interiiffent, 
 
 S iS i ruZcs nondum fibi fatis profpicere poterant de niult.s 
 
 fami is aaum fuiffet. Cam omnia experient.a d.fcerentur neque 
 
 «,K.ffet in liberos adolefcentes tranfmitt. ; ut ea pollens ufu. effet. 
 
 ATc^ illis parentes vivere oportuit - Ha=c certe long^vitas m 
 
 „^iTate et i?ribendi imperitia, ad hiftons et annorum certam me- 
 
 morirm fervandam plane neceffaria er«; cam nee fie quidem faus 
 
 incolumis ad nos pervenerit. Id. ib. 
 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 203 
 
 iKould think it difficult to point out th6 natural 
 caufes of this longevity, and the following change ; 
 at leaft, fuch as can be confident with the fore- 
 mentioned opinion*. Since, if the earth was 
 corrupted to fuch a degree at the umverfal deluge, 
 as to lay a foundation for the {hortening the 
 period of human life; this effeft, one would 
 imagine, fliould have been moft evident, while 
 thefe fame caufes muft be frefti, and operate moft 
 ftrongly : not to repeat, that this fuppofed cor- 
 ruption is a vulgar error. This great change 
 therefore, feems to have been owing to a pofitive 
 appointment of the Deity, diftinft from, and 
 fubfequent to tliat of Noah's flood, and mtro- 
 duced for reafons which took place fome ages 
 after it; and may be conceived as a new difpenja- 
 )ion, neceffary for the future government of the 
 world, in every age (u). However, fo early as 
 
 Mofes s 
 
 • Some of the fuppofed ones are fet down by the lafl mentioned 
 writer who after all, is forced to recur to a parucu ar Providence 
 TthV e^ent, with the noted RaU., who determines it^o have been 
 opus P.o.ulcn,iae, non Naturae Comp. i^^^' H^ft • t^^^^^^^ 
 
 a 'decay in the conftitution of M.i's fons ^^^ff^^^'^^^^ff^l 
 the rains and watersof the deluge, EiT. p. 74. &c. Had fuch a caule 
 been Equate to the effeft. wo^ld there not have been fome appear- 
 ance of its taking place much fooner ; and not by halves, and at 
 fuch diftant periods ; as in the following note i 
 
 (u) See7«,/.r on Orig. Sin, p. 67. ' When God had determined 
 in himfelf. and oromifed to Koah, never to deftroy the world again by 
 fuch an univerfal deftruftlon, till the laft and final judgment; it 
 was neceffary, iy 'i^gree,, tolhorten the lives of men; vvhich was the 
 moft effeau/l meanf to make them more governable, "nd to remove 
 bad examples out of the world ; which would hinder the fpreading 
 of the infeaion ; and people, and reform the ^'o/''* ^S^!". ''l' P/J 
 examples of piety and virtae : for when there are fuch quick fuccef, 
 fions of men, thire are few ages, but have fome P^^\f'^^l^,l^'^^ 
 amples. which give « new and better fpmt to the world. ^^''^^^^^^^ 
 
 2t 
 
204 The Progrefs of 
 
 Mofes's days §; [or at leaft David's reign] we find 
 the life of man fixed to the fame length in gene-- 
 ral that it has at prefent ; and ever fince, fo far 
 as the accounts of ancient times can be relied on, 
 
 we 
 
 Death, c. 3. icft, 2. • Sin brought death in firft, and yet man lived 
 almoft a thoufand years. But he finned more, and then death came 
 nearer to him : for when all the world was firft drowned in wicked- 
 nefs, and then in water, God cut him fhorter by one half; and five 
 hundred years was his ordinary period. And man finned ftill, and 
 had ftrange imaginations, and built towers in the air; and then 
 about Peleg's time, God cut him fhorter by one half yet; two hun- 
 dred and odd years was his determination/ And yet the generations 
 uf the world returned not unanimoully to God : and God cut him ofF 
 another half yet, and reduced him to an hundred and twenty years. 
 And by Mo/es^s time, one half of the final remanent portion was 
 pared away, reducing him to threefcore years and ten.— But if God 
 had ^one on flill in the fame method, and fliortened our days as we 
 multiplied our fins; we fliould have been but as an Ephemeron ; man 
 ihould have lived the life of a fly, or a gourd. — But God feeing 
 Man^s thoughts 'were ody e*vil continually ^ he was refolved no longer to 
 firivi 'with him, nor deftroy the kind, but punifti individuals only, 
 and finele perfons ; and if they finned, or if they did obey, regularhr 
 their life ihould be proportionable.' Taylor, Life oi Chrifl, p. 305. 
 I ihall here add the obJervation of a learned and ingenious friend, 
 which is conneacd with the prefent fubjeft. — It is very plain by the 
 unoccupied fpaces and fuperfluous produce of the earth, that it was 
 intended to be inhabited by many myriads more than ever exifted 
 upon it, and whofe cxillence has only been prevented or cut fliort by 
 the unrighteous inventions of men : this complete replenifhing of 
 the earth, would probably have been the confequence of Adam's 
 obedience; but his fall having broken in upon this fcheme, it be- 
 came the wife and good providence of God to limit the generations 
 of men to a certain proportion, and to keep the balance in fuch fjrt, 
 that maugre all the inventions of men themfelves to prolong human 
 life, or t) increafe the fpecics, the eaifh (hould never be Hocked 
 with inhabitants beyond fuch a proportion, till they were duly dif- 
 pofed to apply the aids and expedients of religion to their prefcrva- 
 tion and felicity. To multiply mankind, while iniquity abounds, 
 and the love of fo large a majority is waxen cold ; or in other words, 
 to replenifh the earth, whilll the appetites of its inhabitants are fo 
 inflamed, would only be to multiply new generations of cut-throats, 
 and oppreiTors, whofe engrofling maw would quickly reduce the 
 fpecies to [perhaps far below] the ordinary proportion. 
 
 S Pf. xc. 10. Jf Mofes be the author of that pfalm, as its title fets 
 forth, and his defcription be i.ot confined to the cafe at that time in 
 the wildernefs. See Huhwll, B. iii. c. l. fea.4. but comp. Durell 
 m loc. 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 205 
 
 we have reafon to believe, that the conftitution 
 of mankind in general, as well as the ftate of the 
 earth, and heavens, whereon that muft depend ; 
 have, at all times, been much the fame as we now 
 find them j| ; and may reft fatisfied, that the ori- 
 ginal promife has been, and will amply be made 
 good; that while the earth remaineth^ feed-time and 
 fjarvejlj and cold and heaty and Jummer and ivintery 
 and day and night Jljall not ceafe * ; and therefore 
 may conclude, that the diftribution, and enjoy- 
 ment of, what I call, the natural advantages of 
 life, is fo far from a conftant gradual decline, 
 that thefe have been at all times in themfelves 
 pretty equal; and rather improving, as they re- 
 ceive affiftance, which they do very much, from, 
 the acquired on^', which we are in the next place 
 to confider. 
 
 The late invention of aris zni fcie?2ces is ufually 
 infifted on, and very juftly, in our difputes with 
 
 atheijisy 
 
 II See Sir W, Temple's Works, Vol. I. p. 276, &c. Sir 7*. P. Blounty 
 Eff. iv. p. 188, 192, &c. or Ld. Bacon's Hift, of Life and Death. 
 Haieiuiu, B, iii. c. 1. fe^. 7, &c. Kifl:. o^Carihhy Illands, B. ii. c. 24. 
 
 That t\icftature of man in this age is the fame as it was near three 
 thoufand years ago, appears from Grea'ves^s account of the monu- 
 ment in the Egyptian pyramid, Derbam, Phyf. Theol. B. v. c. 4. note 
 4. Add Diff. Crit de Hominibus fpecie et ortu inter fe non difl^e- 
 rentibus, c. 4, inter Fabricii Opufc. Hamh. 1738 ; and Hakeivilly B. 
 iii, C.3, 4, 5. and fome late accounts of feveral tribes among the 
 Patagonians, The fame obfervation is made of his age, by Plot, N. 
 H. oi Stajfordjbire, c. 8. feft. 102. 0£ hh Jlrength, by Hake^juill, B, 
 iii. c. 5. fed. 5. That we have had feveral very late inftances of 
 perfons, whofe longe'vity exceeded that of the patriarchal age, may be 
 leen in Wortbington^ Effay, p. 4 17. Comp. Huet» Alnet. Quxft. L. 
 ii. c. 12. fed. 4. Morton^s N. Hiil. oi NorthamptonJhir€,Q. 8. Jonfton, 
 ^^ Nature conftantia. Prop. v. Art, i. 11. It appears from the 
 London accounts during the interval of thirty years, viz. from 1728 
 to 1757 induiive, that 2979 perfons were living at 90, 242 at lOQ, 
 10 at 1 10, and i at 138. Phil, Tranf. Vol, LIF. Par: i. Art. i u 
 
 * Gtn^ viii. 22. 
 
2o6 7 he Progrefs of 
 
 atheijlsy againft the eternity of the world; and 
 their continual progrefs^ though perhaps feldom 
 attended to, feems to be a point no lefs neceflary 
 to complete the argument. For if it can be 
 fhewn, either that thefe which we now have, or 
 others of equal ufe and importance, were dif- 
 covered fooner; and dropt again, and fubjeft to 
 their feveral revolutions ; as has lately been affert- 
 ed § ; why fhould not we grant from analogy^ that 
 the world itfelf has undergone the like ? that the 
 fame time and chance has happened to all things 
 concerning it, and its inhabitants ? — But that 
 there actually have been fuch yiciflitudes in na- 
 ture; or fo much as one valuable art, or branch 
 of fcience, wholly loft fince the creation, I know 
 no ground fufficient to believe (v). 
 
 In 
 
 5 * Arts and fciences grow up, flourifh, decay, die, and return 
 again under the fame or other forms, after periods which appear long 
 to us, however (hort they may be, compared with the immenfc du- 
 ration of the fyftems of created being. Thefe periods are fo dif- 
 proportionate to all human means of prcferving the memory of 
 things, that when the fame things return, we take frequently for a 
 jiew difcovery, the revival of an art or fcience long before known.' 
 X,di. Bolingbroke, Efl*. iii. p. 236. See alfo his Letter, occaiioned by 
 oneof Abp. Tillot/oH'*& Sermons ; Works, Vol. lil. p. 2657 &c. 
 
 (v) For proof of this, fee the pretended inftances of loft arts in 
 Pancirollus, which, upon examination, will appear all to be either 
 manifeftly falfe or frivolous ; or of fuch trifles as have been dropt 
 hy difufe. * In what Pancirollus fays of certain arts, which accord- 
 ing to him were known to the ancients, and have been fince loft, 
 there are almoft as many miftakes and puerilities as words : The 
 arts which he fpeaks of, either never exifted, or they exift to this 
 day, and in a more perfedl ftate than ever.' Gogua, Pref. p. 7, *. 
 To which may be added IVot ton's Pref. to Refl. on anc. and mod. L. 
 * I will agree — that feveral arts in the world have been loft, and 
 others, after a time again, revived ; but then thefe have been fuch 
 arts as have been more curious than ufeful; and have rather been 
 ornamental, than beneficial to mankind ; and there has been feme 
 good reafon to be given for their difufe ; either by their growing out 
 
 of 
 
 V 
 
 I 
 
 K )? 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 207 
 
 In a hiftory of the world, which has been pro- 
 ved by a late unexceptionable writer *, to be of 
 all others by far the moft ancient and authentic, 
 and which carries its accounts as high as either 
 could be wifhed, or hoped for, from hiftory; even 
 to the forming and firflr peopling of the world it- 
 felf, and the original divifion of the nations : in 
 this, we have the birth and genealogy, the names 
 and chara6lcrs, of the founders of ftates and 
 kingdoms ; as well as the inventors even of ma- 
 nual arts, delivered down (w) ; and from the 
 
 very 
 
 of faihion, or by feme more eafy and commodious invention. Thus 
 the art of ghi/s -painting v/zsloii:2ihout the time of the Reformation J, 
 when the images of faints were not fo highly efteemed^ and churches 
 beoan to be more gravelv adorned. Thus the ufe of archers in an 
 army, has been laid afide'fmce the invention of pikes and guns. But 
 who can imagine that the art of the fmith, and the carpenter, ftiould 
 ever be forgot after the lirft invention ; unlefs we could fuppofe that 
 houfes, and all forts of uteufils and conveniences, .Oiould grow out 
 of faftiion ; and it would be the mode for men to live like colts and 
 wild affes ? Unlefs men could be fuppofed to forget the ufe of eating 
 and drinking, lam confident they could never forget the art of plow- 
 ing and fowing, and prcfling the grape.' NichrJU's Conf. Part iV 
 And the fame may be faid of na'vigation, notwithllandmg all that 
 Lord Bohnghroke advances to the contrary. EiT. iii. p. 236. See more 
 of this in M-'otton's Pref. p. 14, ^'C 2d Ed. Comp. Mod. Part of 
 Uninj, Hip. B. xviii. c. 12. Seft. 6. Fin. and Goguct^ on the ongia 
 of Laws, Arts, and Sciences. 
 Sir If. Nenjotonj Chron. 
 
 g ^^^ 
 
 as ^haZe' cattle: and his brother* s name -^as Jubal-y he ^oj the fa 
 ther of all fuch as handle the harp and the organ : and Tubal Cain 
 -was an inflruaor of e'very artificer in brafs and iron ; or a forger of 
 arms. Gen iv. 20, &c. After the food, we are told that Noah be^an 
 to be a hufbandman, and he planted a <vineyard. Gen. ix. 20. which,, 
 by his being furprifed in fuch a remarkable ma:uner with the eiFea$ 
 of its fruit, feems to have been the firil of the kind. So late as Abra- 
 
 ham's 
 
 t This feems to be a vulgar error. See glafs-pairjing in Chambers 
 Cyclopedia, or Spertaclede la Nature, Vol. III. p. 219. or Mr. h alpok % 
 AnecdotesofPainting.Vol.il. p. 15. ^^c. 
 
 Of Cement, Speft. p. 228. Add ill^AVs Abr. Phil. Tranf. Vol. if. 
 Part iv. p. 6z, 63. 
 
208 
 
 ''The progrefs of 
 
 very air of truth, and that fimplicity which runs 
 through the whole relation y have much more rea- 
 fon to depend upon it, than on the fabulous an- 
 tiquities of Greece and Egypt : to obviate which, 
 was probably one great defign of the relator (x). 
 
 From 
 
 ham\ time, we find there was enough of the bell land unoccupied 
 for both him and Lct^ to chufe out of; Gen, xiii. 9. which (as the 
 author of Bibliotheca Biblica obferves, p. 335-) ^^ ^ ^^^ illullrious 
 teftimony for the late peopling of the world, and by confequence 
 for the truth of the Mofaic hiftory of the creation and deluge ; in as 
 much as it appears by this, that the moil pleafant and moll fruit- 
 ful country of the whole earth, and which, in a few hundreds of 
 years afterward, was fo exceeding populous ; was yet in the days of 
 Abraham fo very thinly peopled, that even large trafts of ground 
 were left in a manner uncultivated and without proprietor. So lit- 
 tle ground is there for that aflertion of Lord Bolingbrokehy on which 
 he builds very largely ; * Nations were civilized, wife conftitutions 
 of government were framed, arts and fciences were invented and im- 
 proved, long before the remotell time to which any hiilory, or tra- 
 dition extends.' Vol. IV. p. 231. 
 
 (x) Hilloria fua Mojh Ifraelitarum animos a vicinorum fabulis, 
 adeoque religionibus, qua fxpe iis nitebantur, alienare adgre/Tus 
 ell. — Non modo mundumcrcatum docet, quod videnturetiam cre- 
 didiffe, vel potius ex veteribus monumentis fciviffe, vicini ; fed e- 
 tiam quot faiffent setates ab initio mundi ad fua tempora ollendit, 
 finguhfque per/hnas generatas enumeravit, ut ingenti illi numero ^- 
 tatum, qui ab -^gyptiis jaAabatur, et in fua quidem regione fuilfe 
 dicebatur, verum opponeret. — Vide Ja<5tationes yEgyptiorum de 
 gentis fuse antiquitate apud Ezei. xxix. 3. et qua."habcmusad Num, 
 xiii. 23. At ollendit Mofe-s Gtn. x. 6. poll diluvium demum a 
 Chami polleris, a Babyloneilluc profeAis, fuiflecultam JEgypium. 
 Plurimaetiam de generatione hominum in fua regione, deque dilu- 
 vio, menticbantur -^£gyptii ; qux habet Diodor, L. i. Multa jaiTl- 
 abant de rerum omnium apud fe inventione, qux apud eundem ie- 
 guntur. Quorum pleraque obiter confutat Mofes alia plane narratio- 
 ne, aliifque rerum inventoribus indicatis. Videqux diximus ad Gen. 
 iv, 21, 22. Ofiridi etiam fuo agriculture, et vini e racemis expri- 
 mendi inventionem tribuebant JEgyptii ; qux Noachi fuit, ut docet 
 Mojes Cap. ix. 20. Cleric, Proleg. ad Comm. DilT, iii. de fcript. 
 Pent. p. 37. Id. in indice ad Vweam, Originem etiam mufica;, quan- 
 quam initio rudis, omittere noluiflevidetur Mofes^ utoftenderet men- 
 tiri iEgyptios, qui ejus inventionem Thouthi uEgyptio, amico Ofi- 
 ridis, qui poll diluvium vixit, acceptam ferebant. Died. Sic. L. i. p. 
 15. Ed. Riiod. P/ato de Leg. ii. p. 577. Tubul-Caifiem quoque om- 
 iie seris et ferri opificium expolientem, contra ^Egyptios a Mc/e 
 jnemoratumcredi bile ell : illi in^Egypto, regnantc Oliride, didita- 
 
 bant» 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 209 
 
 From whom we learn, that neither the planting 
 of the world, nor the introdu6lion of arts and 
 fciences, were of fo early a date, as they have 
 ufually been reprefented *. 
 ^ Moft nations, hke private families, have at all 
 times been unaccountably fond of carrying up 
 their pedigree as high as pofliblef ; and where no 
 marks remained of the fucceifive alterations in 
 their ftate, were apt to imagine that it had always 
 been the fame. Hence the many foolifh pre- 
 tences 
 
 bant, in Thebaide aeris et auri cudendi in'ventis artibus^ arma eJTefaaa^ 
 quibus cccidendo feras, et terram colendo, earn ftudlofe cultiorem reddereta\ 
 et q. feq. ap. Diod.h. i. p. 14. Id. in Gen. iv. 21, 22. Num. xiii. 
 Zl^Lhebron qmdemfeptem annis ante uEgyptiacam Tanin condita fuerat 
 — Obiter retundit Mofes iEgyptiorum fuperbiam, qui fe primos 
 mortahum, fuafque promde urbes omnium antiquiffimas jaaabant 
 ExeL XXIX. 3. /)/W. 5/V.L. i. Bibl. p. 9. Jujiin. L. ii. c. i. Cleric. 
 in Num. xiii. 22. Comp. id. in Ef.x\\\i, 2. 
 
 • * Though Noah and his fons had, doubtlefs, fome knowledge o^ 
 the inventions of the Antediluvians, and probably acquainted their 
 defendants with fuch of them as were moft obvious and ufeful in 
 coi^mon life ; ^^t it is not to be imagined that any of the more cu- 
 nous arts, or fpeculative fciences, were improved in any decree ' 
 fuppofing them to have been known or invented ; till fome confi- 
 derable time after the difperfion. - For on their fettling in anv 
 country, they found it employment fufficient to cultivate the land 
 (which yet for want of feparate propertv, and fecurity in their pof- 
 leffions, in thofe early times, they improved no farther than barely 
 to fupply their neceffities) and to provide themfelves habitations and 
 neceiraries, for their mutual comfort and fubfillence *. Belides this 
 they were often obliged to remove' from one place to another, where 
 they could more conveniently refide ; and it was a great while be- 
 fore they came to embody themfelves together in towns and citie-; • 
 and from thence to fpread into provinces ; and to fettle the bounds 
 and extent of their territories f. Two or three ages at leait muil 
 have been /pent in this manner ; and it is not very likelv thev 
 ftiould amufe themfelves with celeftial obfervations in particular. 
 when they had fo many more preffing affairs to mind.' Univ. im. 
 
 t V. Macpherfon, Origin of ancient Caledonians, Arc. DifT. I. 
 
 • Vid Thucid. L. i. fub in. 
 
 t Stillin^ict, Or. S. B. i. c. i. fea. 16. 
 
 o 
 
:s la 5r2>^ Frogrvfs of 
 
 tences among the ancients, to their being Abort-- 
 gines of the countries they had inhabited time out 
 of mind : hence were they led to make their fe- 
 veral gods the founders of their government *. 
 They knew but vei'y little of the world ; and the 
 tradition which they had of that little, was fo far 
 blended with fidion and romance, that it ferved 
 only to confound them f . Upon the removal of 
 this cloud, by the more faithful, diligent, and ac- 
 curate enquiry of the moderns, we fee hiftory be- 
 ginning to clear up, even at this diftance ; the 
 world puts on a very different face ^ and all parts^ 
 of it appeal' conformable to each other, and to 
 the late well known courfe of things. We find 
 the marvellous in all their annals, and more efpe- 
 cially in the great point of their antiquity, ex- 
 ceedindy reduced 1 -, and our own plain accounts- 
 
 flili 
 
 * Datur hcec venia antiquitatr, ut mifcendo humani divlnis, prim- 
 ordia urbium au;>uftiora facial ; fays Liv, Pref. HiU. L. i. very ho- 
 neftly. The fame humour among Chriftian countrjts, of carrying 
 up the original of their churches either to feme apollle, or apoftoli- 
 cal perfon, is no lefshoneftly cenfured hy Mcjhem. de Rebus Chrilt- 
 antc Conlt. M. p. 84, &c. 
 
 t The grounds of the uncertainty of ancient hiftory, may be feen 
 In StilUngficet, Or. Sac. B. i. c i. fea. 16. 18, &c. Of the Egyptian 
 jn particular, fee Shaiv*s Travels, p. 417, 442. Comp. Baker ow 
 Hilt, and Chron. ReHca. c. 10, and 11. Shuckfcr(I,.\o\. II. B. vm.- 
 Wihaer, Vol. 11. c. 10 fea. 4, &c. Bp. Cittytou's Remarks on the 
 Origin of Hieroglyphlcks, p. 58, &'C. G-€guety Vol. III. Diff. 111. p- 
 269. That the Babylonijh tm^lxc was not fo old as has been pretend- 
 ed, See Le CItrc, on Gen. x. 10. Goncerning the fabulous antiquity 
 of the Chine/e, See Canclufton of Mod. Hift p. 95. Fol. 
 
 X * Till men come to a fcrutiny, they are very apt to imagine that 
 a number is vallly greater than it is.' I have often afked people to 
 guefs how many men there have been in a direa line between the 
 prefent king of England vCutii J'^ain, meaning only one man in age-^ 
 neration; the king's father, grandfather, kc. The anf^ver made 
 upon a fudden conjeaure, has always been, yow^' thovfands ; where^ 
 ab it is evident from a calculation, tlAre have not been two hundred. 
 3 Eor: 
 
 Natural Religion ajid Science. 211 
 
 ftill more and more confirmed : from vvhicii \vt 
 may be convinced, that both the peopling and 
 cultivating of the earth arofe at firlt from a few, 
 low beginnings ; and very gradually fpred itfelf 
 from fome one center * : and that it has at all 
 
 times* 
 
 For. the fpace of time between Adam and Chrijl^ let us take the ge-, 
 nealogy of our Saviour, preferved by St. Luke, in which the names 
 between Adam and Chrifty exclufive of both, are but (eventy-four." 
 From the birth oiChrift to the birth of the kin:^, were fixteen hun- 
 dred and eighty years. Let it be fuppofed, that in the lill of the 
 king's progenitors, every fon was born when his father was twent/. 
 five years old, which is as early as can be fuppofed, one with another. 
 According to this fuppofition, there were four generations in ever/ 
 hundred years : /. e, in thofe fixteen hundred and eighty-three years, 
 there were fixty-feven generations ; which fixty-feven, added to the 
 foregoing feverity-four, will make no more than a hundred and for- 
 ty-one. ' Hallet on Heb, xi. 7 . Note a. p. 17 .. Comp. Goguety V oi. III. 
 X)i/r. iii. pr. 
 
 * This has been obferved by If. Cafaubon in one refpea. <vix. in 
 relation to language. EJl enim 'verijjmum, fays he, linguas caeteras eo ma- 
 nifefiiora et magis exprejfa originis Hebrmcae njejiigia fer^vajfe, et nunc 
 /erfvare^ quo prop i us ab antiqua et prima hominum Jede abfuerunt. Sec, 
 A confirmation of it in fome other refpeas, may be had from the' 
 following 'very remarkable particular, as Ha rt /ey juHly calls it ; Ob- 
 J'er^ations on man^ V. 11. p. 1 13. * It appears from hiflory, that the 
 different nations of the world have had, caeteris paribus, mor° or lefs 
 knowledge, civil and religious, in proportion as they were nearer to,- 
 or had more intimate communication with, Egypt, Palaefiine, Ckaldeu^ 
 and the other countries that were inhabited by the mofl eminent 
 perfons amongft the firft defcendants oi Noah ; and by thofe who are^ 
 faid in fcripture to have had particular revelations made to them bv 
 God : and that the firll inhabitants of the extreme parts of the worl J, 
 reckoning Palaejiine as the center, were in general 'mere lavacei. 
 Now all this is utterly inexplicable upon the footing of infidelity ;- ' 
 of the exclufibn of all divine cotnmunications. Why thould not ha- 
 man nature be as fagacious,* and make as many difcoveries, civil, 
 and religious at the Cape of Good Hope, or in America \ as in Egypt, 
 Palaeftine, Mefopotamia, Greece, ox Rome ? Nay, why fhould Palaef}i'ne 
 fo far exceed them all, as it did confefTedly ? Allow the fcripturc- 
 accounts. and all will be clear and eafy. Mankind after the i[oQ^, 
 were firft difperfcd from the plains of Mefopotamia, ^iomc-of the- 
 chief heads of families fettled there, in Palaeftine, and in Egypt: 
 Palaefiine \i^d afterwards extraordinary divine ilhiminations bellow- 
 ed upoa its inhabitants, the Ifraelites and Je-uos, Hence its inha- 
 bitants had the pureft notions of God, and the wifelt civil elhiblifli-. • 
 men:. Next after them come the Egyptians, and Chaldeans ^ who; not 
 
 O z 
 
 beins" 
 
2 1 2 ^-'^^ Progrefs of 
 
 times proceeded by pretty near the fame flow, re- 
 gular fleps it does at prefent. 
 
 Since we have looked into paft times more nar- 
 rowly, we prove the ancients to have been far lels 
 expert and knowing, than by a fujxrftitious reve- 
 rence for every thing remote, we once were ac- 
 cuftomed to fuppofe : and as well from tlie pre- 
 fent ftate of thofe particular nations, which ufed 
 to brag moft of their extraordinary advancement, 
 and long pofleflion of the fciences ; as from the 
 remains of their forefathers' flcill, when fairly ( y) 
 
 b^in? removed from their ftrfl habitations, and Hring In fertile coun- 
 Uies watered by the Nile. Tigris, and Euphrates, may be fuppofed to 
 have preferved more both of the antediluvian and poftdiluvian reve- 
 lations • alfo to have had more leifure for invention, and more free 
 communication with the I/raeliUs and J.-xt-.; than any other nations. 
 Whereas thofe fmall parties which were driven farther and farther 
 from each other into the extremities of heat and cold, mtirely oc- 
 cupied in providing neceflaries for themfeWes, and alfo cut off by 
 rivers, mountains, or diilance, from all communication with i>«/^.-. 
 fiine hyPt, ^^^^ ChaUaea ; would lofe much of their orrginal ftock, 
 {^d'hafe neither inclination nor ability to invent more/ Of the feve- 
 ral Arts Cuftoms, religious rites and civil inibtutions which firft a- 
 rofein^M See ConcTufion of M.^'. H//?. p. 120. Pol/ Anyone 
 that fairly examines hiftory, will ftnd thofe accounts more probable, 
 than ;hat' extraordinary fuppofition of Ld folinjhroke ^ .v^. that 
 fcicnce may have come originally from weft to eaU. Ld. h s Works, 
 
 Vol. IV. p. M- . . . ^ c r 
 
 (Y^ It may indeed be imagined, from the great extent of fome 
 ancient cities', fuch as I'hdcs, Nineueh^BabyLn^ as well as from the e- 
 normous fizc of feveral public works in thofe parts ; that the anci- 
 ^nt nations were more populous, and that arts have once been in 
 much greater perfedion, than they now appear in the world ; but 
 Tpon fecond thoughts, I fancy it will be found that this was ra- 
 Xrowinsto an unnatural, gigantic lafte, which then prevailed 
 Jks r.W.r obfer%^es. Hill, of Know. Vol II. p. 3H.) J" their .-Cr- 
 rhiteaure, ftatuary, and other arts ; as well as in their frame of go- 
 vernment, and politics ; than to any real improvement m either of 
 Ihrfe • a-? may be gathered from the vaft numbers of men ufually 
 ^mDloved on each occafion ; which is a fign, that inllruments of 
 ^vnedition and convenience were not had in the former cafe, ib. p. 
 32, . and that the means of living comfortably at home, were no 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 2 1 3 
 
 reprefented, we find no great reafon to envy them 
 their beft acquirements j fo far I mean, as con- 
 cerns real ufe : for all the worth that fafliion and 
 fancy may give things, is out of the queftion *. 
 
 Some of them indeed defcribe their knowledge 
 in high ftrains ; and perhaps for their times, and 
 in comparifon with fome of their neighbours, it 
 may have been confiderable ; and yet 'tis more 
 than probable, that fuch accounts are chiefly ow^ 
 ing to their ignorance of the true jftate of the reft 
 of mankind ; as is the cafe remarkably with the 
 Chinefcy a people fo much celebrated by them- 
 felves, and others ; who yet, upon more fl:ri6t 
 examination, liave appeared in moft things of 
 confequence, and where moft might have been ex- 
 pe6ted, leaft of all to deferve a charafter : fo that 
 nothing but their as fmall acquaintance with the 
 Europeans formerly, as ours with them, could 
 
 pof- 
 
 lefs wanting in the latter ; which might be the occafion of fo many 
 ferving abroad in wars, and made the ancient armies fo very nume- 
 rous as they are commonly reprefented, ib. p. 323. This notion is 
 <:onfirmed, from obferving the like monflrous uijdertakings carried 
 on entirely by the labour of multitudes, in countries where there 
 could be no room for crur fufpedling any extraordinary ikill, viz. 
 Mexico and China, See Hume, Polit. Difc. D. x. Though what the 
 ingenious author of a DiJJertation on the Numbers of Mankind, [Edin. 
 1753.] has advanced to the contrary, well deferves farther confider- 
 ation. Comp. Modern Uni'v. Hiji. fol. Vol. III. p. 644. not. F. g. 
 On the fuppofed populoufnefs of thofe northern nations which o- 
 ver-ran the Roman empire, fee Geddes^ Mifc. Trails, Vo}. III. No^ 
 6. p. 13. Robert/on Hilt. Ch. V. p. 4. 
 
 * Why the fciences of men's brains have been more fubje6l to 
 viciflitudes, than the arts of their hands, fee Sprat, Hift. R, S. p^ 
 118, &c. 3d Ed. *The operations of the Intelled are more fixed 
 and uniform than thofe of the Fancy or Tafte. Truth makes an 
 impreflion nearly the fame in every 'place ; the ideas of what is 
 beautiful, elegant or fublime, vary in different Climates.' Roherfjcn 
 Hift. of Ch. V, p. ^22. 
 
 03 
 
r 
 
 214 
 
 T'be Frogrcfs of 
 
 podibly give rife to thofe extravagant fentiments 
 and fayings, that are recorded of each other (z). 
 
 The 
 
 (z) See the ift Part, p. 29, note (f ) ; to which may be added Jen- 
 kiuf Vol. I. p. 3^0, &c. lVotion\ 'di\d Bahr*b Reflcdtions, un erthe 
 heads p^;/ic and ajironcmy, Thefcand many other authors lli'.w us, how 
 little able the Chincfe were to make any proper obfervations in rhcir 
 fi) much boaOed fcienccof the heavens, ti'l they were (hewn the way 
 of late by miflionaries : as alfo how monftroufly inaccurate both their 
 chronological and agronomical tables werefound to be See CoJiard\ 
 Letter mPbil. Tranf. for 1 747. DuHalde^ their panegyrift, fays. They 
 have applied them/elves fromthe beginning of their empire to ajirono" 
 my ; yet when he comes to explain himfelf, all their lludy appears to 
 be a little, low, judicial ajhology^ Vol I. fol. Ene. p 394, 50 igno- 
 rant were they in geography, that their literati feeing a map of the 
 world in the hands of the Je/uitSy took one of the two herai- 
 fpheref , which contained Europe, Afea, and Jfrica, for the empire of 
 Chitia, p. 280. [Comp. T ra.v els o( Je/uifs, Vol. II. p. 304.] 6omeof 
 their curious notions in religion may be feen, p. 254. 652. 655. 657. 
 Their fkill in metaphyjics has been touched upon by Gurdon, B. Left, 
 feft. 14. p. 42;, &c. Their mechanics may be judged of, from the Je^ 
 /«//'s account of their taking thefirft watch he brought thither for a liv- 
 ing creature. Bcyle on final caufes, p. 230 Their civil /o/;V>', frr m the 
 appointment of an officer in Peking, and other large cities, to deftroy 
 every morning all the Infants expofed in the ftreets ; which amounted 
 to a very considerable number. Mod. Univ, Hift, fcl. Vol. I. p 175, 
 Though others give a different account. Bell, Vol. ll. p. 105. 
 Their method of^ communicating any Icience, from their yet being 
 without any alphabet. See Phil Tranf Vol. LIX. p. 495. Some 
 fpecimens of their morals may be feen in Lord Anjcn% Voyage, p. 
 398. 4to. or Leland, Advantage, kc. ^'o\. II. Part ii. c. 4. Of their 
 go'vernmctit. An/on B. iii. c. 10. Of the bribery and corruption which 
 reign throu;;h the whole Empire, from the highefl tribunals down 
 to the loweft offices, Moa. Un. Hijl. fol. Vol. III. p. 578. * Upon 
 tlie whole, the Ct:tne/e appear to be little better than a nation of 
 iignal hypocrites, who boaft of the equity and excellence of their 
 lawi, and llick at no violation of theni ; and under the fairell out- 
 fide, and pretence of juftice and probity, indulge themfelves in all 
 manner of extortions, fraud, and villainy.' ib. p. 581. addConclufion 
 viMcd. Hiji. p. 100. fol. or Tcrrecnh lliort account of their reigning 
 Vice, Ojheck Voyage, Vol. II. p. 238, &c. 80 far are they from be- 
 ing qualified to teach the Eurtpeans morality ! That mofl of thofe 
 of learnin;;!^ and quality among them border upon Atheifm, ib. 
 Vol. 1\'. t^ xviii. c. 7. feet. 14. not. G. Comp. Monf. Barbinais'*% 
 Letters, ib. c. 9, fcft. 11. note P. An attempt was lately made 
 [but the foundation of it has been queiliOned. \ id. A/t;;//?^^^ againll 
 i^ecdbum, and Phil. Tranf Vol. LIX. No. LXVi.] to fhew that 
 many of their ancient cbara^ers are the very fame with tliofe of the 
 J^gypttansy with whom they muH once have had'a confiderable com* 
 
 mu» 
 
 Naturd Religion and 'Science. 2 1 5 
 
 The fame may in a great meafure be affirmed 
 of the Egyptian learning ||. Though this country 
 lias been ftyled the Mother of Arts f , as well as 
 Miftrefs of Rehgion % h and was, no doubt, as 
 early poliftied as raoft : yet if we be allowed to 
 judge of her improvement in other parts of fclence, 
 from that moft concerning one, and that which 
 therefore in all reafon fhould have been moft cul- 
 tivated, I mean medicine -, of which fhe alfo claims 
 the firft invention * ; we fliall not have much 
 room to marvel at her high advances. — ' It muft 
 evidently appear, fays a learned writer, that the 
 
 Egyp- 
 
 munication, and from wkom th^y probably derived maft of their fci- 
 eace, with many of their cuftoms and religious mftitutes ; which 
 would prove an efFedual confutation of the pretended antiquity 
 and authenticity of their famed annals. Vid. Needham, Epilt.de In- 
 fcriptione iEgyptiaca. Rom^y 1761. & Reponfe aux deux Lettres 
 de Monfieur Bartoli, The fame obfervation was made long ago by 
 M. Martiniusy Hifl. Sin. L. i. p. 23. A. D. 1659. <^o«^P- ^«f 
 Hift. of Commerce, c. 10. and Goguety on their Hiftory and Chro- 
 nology. Vol. III. Diff. iii. p. 284, &c. with the curious Extrads 
 from their Hiftorians. ib. p. 300. 308. * Comp. Gutgnes de 1 Origm 
 des Chinois : and the Letters of M. d.e Mairan with fome judicious 
 Remarks on them in Gent. Mag. March 1766. ^^^^^''J^^'^'Pf'^^^^ 
 gom. ad Opufc. T, Hyde p. 14, &c. and Mod, Umv. Hift. fol. VoL 
 
 II *'The truth is, there want not grounds of fufpicion, that the old 
 Ezyptian learning was not of that elevation, which the prefent di - 
 ftfnce of our age makes us apt to think it was ; and a learned man 
 hath, in a fet difcourfe, endeavoured to fhew the great defefts that 
 there were in it \ Neither can it, I think, be denied, but. accord^ 
 ine to the reports we have now concerning it, fome parts of their 
 learning were frivolous, a great deal magical, and the refl fhort of 
 that improvement which the accefEon of the parts and induflry of 
 after-ages gave unto it'. Stilling jket y Or. S. B. u. c 2. p, 75. add 
 Wotton^ Kefl. c. 9. Sir T, P. Bltmnt's Eff. in. p. 153, ^^ F^fnng^ 
 Com. in Jef, Vol. I. p. 540, &c. 
 
 t Macrob. Sat. L. 1. c. 15. Comp. note (x) fupra, p. 208. 
 
 X Id. L. vii. c. 13. et Ammian, Marc. L. xxii^ Herod, tutfrp. 
 
 • Plin. N. H. L. vii. c. 56. 
 
 ■.9^ Gquring. de lierm, Med. c. 10, 11, la. 
 
 O 4 
 
2l6 
 
 ^je Progrcfs of 
 
 Egyptians could have no fuch phyficians in the 
 
 days of Mofes, as Diodorus and Herodotus feem to 
 
 luppofe : it is much more probable that ages 
 
 after thefe times, they were, hke the Babylonia 
 
 ans, entirely deftitute of perfons fkillful in cur- 
 
 ing any difeafes that might happen araongft 
 
 them ; and that the beft method they could think 
 
 of after confulting their oracles, was, when any 
 
 one was fick, they took care to have as many 
 
 perfons fee and fpeak to him as poffibly could ; 
 
 that if any one who faw the fick perfon, had 
 
 had the like diftemper, he might fay what was 
 
 proper to be done in that condition f.' From 
 
 which 
 
 . t f ""f"!^' Connca B. ix. p. ^S-j. Bahyhnii (tefte Herodot. L. 
 1. et ^jraa. G. L xvi ) languentes in forum eficrebant, ut viri qui 
 eos adirent, confulerent hortarenturque ad ea qux ipfi faciendo ef- 
 Jugiflent fimilem morbum, aut alium noviflent eftugiffe. - Idem 
 fUhtalmni Lufitam et Igypm. />. Ferg, De Inv. Rer L. i c 20. 
 Conf. W O. L. 111. et P/ut^rcL de Occult, vivend. That the 
 fame was done in other countries, fee H^r/e, H. Effay on the State 
 
 pended much on aftro ogical and magical grounds, eithV the in. 
 Huenceoffome particular planet, or feme tutelar d.Tmon were dill 
 
 Zllt ' ^^'T' l^r"^} .^^'^^ precarious foundation muft 
 needs depreciate their fkill, and Hop any incrcafe of knowledge which 
 might be made on other principles.' Univ. Hiji, Vol. J. p. 210 
 
 *^»Ta, T^> ^,^,,v ra irae»5^«T«. Cel/, ap. Or/>. L. viii. p. 416. Ed. 
 Cant. Nor wfl< fhf» m^fKrt/4 „,U:ok ^u^..^-.-- rTrj . . ^ J - • 
 
 ^ .^"- *-'* '*"-• v.i v^. 1. rart 11. p. 442. Uo^uet, Vol. Ij. 
 
 247-J "ke to make any great progrefs in that fc'ience. That 
 y//r^./7 was by much the olcfeft branch of phyftc, and that this art in 
 general made but very flow advances, till/after Tome ages fpent in 
 colleaing ob.ervations, it came to the height of reputation under 
 H:p^ocrat^s : [where it llood many ages more, and where, as ayr/V;;r., 
 fome fay it Hands yet] fee Dr^^h's Notes to Le Clerc. Hyft. Phy f Pari 
 II 1. c. 17, &c What progrefs could be made in anatomy during 
 %H ancient fuperflition oX the Egyptians, may be feen in Diod. SiT, 
 
 'Natural Religion and Science. - 217 
 
 which fmgle inftance of the ftate of this moft ne- 
 ceiTary art, in thofe times and places \ as well as 
 its firft rudiments, in like manner defcribed by 
 an able judge f; we may, I think, be pretty well 
 fatisfied in what condition the reft then were, in 
 
 other 
 
 L. i. In embalming, the body was opened with much ceremony ; 
 the perfon who performed it, fled as foon as he had done his office, 
 and all who were prefent purfued him with ftones, as one who had 
 incurred the public malecfidlion. For the Egyptians regarded with 
 horror every one who offered any violence to a human body. Goguet^ 
 Part i. B. iii. c, i. Art. ii. The fame fuperlHtion prevails among the 
 Chine fe. See Lett. Edif. T.xvii. p. 389. T. xxi. p. 147, &c. T. xxvi, 
 
 p. 26. 
 
 A tolerable account of the ancient flate of phyfic, may be feen 
 in a note to p. 85. oiToung\ Hifl. Diff. Vol. II. Add Marie's Eff. 
 p. 80, &c. or Barchufen de Medicinx Grig, et Progr. DiiTert. i. et 
 xviii. or D, Le Cierc, Hill. Phyf paffim. 
 
 f Cel/us inventlonem artis fcienter ponit, L. i. fcribens, — Nota- 
 runt aegrorum qui fine medicis erant, alios propter aviditatem primis 
 diebus cibum protinus fumpfiffe, alios propter faftidium abftinuiffe; 
 et levatum magis morbum eorum qui abftinuifTent : itemque alios in 
 ipfa febre aliquid ediffe, alios paulo ante eam, alios poft remiffionem 
 ejus ; et optime iis ceifiire qui poft finem febris id feciffent. — Hasc 
 fimiliaque cum quotidie inciderept, diligentes homines talia ani- 
 madvertentes ad extremum perceperunt quae ajgrotantibus utilia 
 forent. Sic Medicinam ortam inter omnes conftat.' C. Cet/l ap Pot. 
 Ferg, de R. I. L. i. c. 20. Comp. ^intil. L. ii. c. 18. AMlVotton^ 
 Refi. c. 26. p. 341, &c. 2d, Ed. Max, Tyr. Diff. xl. 234. Barchufen^ 
 Diff. i. iii. p. 1 1, &c. 
 
 * How fimple the beginnings of this art were, may be obferved 
 by the ftory or tradition of uEj'culapius going about the country with 
 a dog and a fhe-goat always following him ; both which he ufed 
 much in his cures; the firft for licking all ulcerated wounds; and 
 goat's milk for difeafes of the ftomach and lungs. We find little 
 more recorded of either his methods or medicines ; though he was fo 
 fucccfsful by his fkill, or fo admired for the novelty of his profef- 
 fion, as to have been honoured with ftatues, efteemed fon of Apollo^ 
 and worfhipped as a god.* Tanple\ Works, Vol. I. p. 280. This 
 obfervation feems to come with fome weight from fo profefled an 
 admirer of all that relates to the ancients. To which we may add, 
 that the very notion of a god of phyfic ^ with his feveral temples and 
 their apparatus, will demonftrate the low ftate in which that art muft 
 be ; fmce his priefts and praditioners, who were to keep up his credit 
 by performing now and then fomething extraordinary, if they could 
 have done many real cures, would never have needed to recur to fo 
 much fuperrtition, artifice, and juggle, as was pradifed all along, 
 while fuch a notion fubfifted Vid. Le Clerc on jEfculapius, Hift. Ph. 
 C, 28, &c. of the ancient anatonr^y ib. 104, 125. oi cbemijiry, p. 146. 
 
! 
 
 2i8 "The Progrefs of 
 
 other parts of the world ; as alfo of their gradual 
 improvements fmce in all refpefts *. 
 
 Many are indeed carried on much fafter in 
 fome countries than in others; and fome now 
 and then are brought to fo great perfeftion in one 
 country, as to feem almoft incapable of any in- 
 creafe, for feveral ages; which proves againft an 
 exaft, equable improvement under each period, 
 and in each particular; which never was con- 
 tended for : but is no argument againft improve- 
 ment "in general; much lefs, any evidence that 
 
 thefe 
 
 • See NiMVs Conf. Parti, p. 81, 8z. tft Ed. or Goguet^^ VOj 
 riginc des Loix, des Arts, et des Sciences, &c.P^m }7S^'f^^' 
 h^r^h 1761 Part i B.iii. and Partii. B.in.c.2. Art. 1. ' We may 
 .ob4v J, that fhe progrefs of the arts and fciences in the firft ages, was 
 eSng flow, even among thofe nations who purfued them with 
 ^Kateft conftancy and keennefs. The tedious imperfea methods 
 Zyh^ of communicating their thoughts, muft have formed a very 
 IreatXftacle to the improvement of human knowledge. .For many 
 lees Snd knew no better ways of writing, than pamting and 
 hferogTyphics. Both thefe ways of writing are extremely defeftive : 
 T^e capable only of repreVenting fenaie objeas : Symbols are 
 iStI ^nfit for communicating, with precifion abftraft ide^^^^^^ Fo 
 ^hich reafon, mathematics in Pf^icular could make but 1 ttle pro 
 ffrefs, till after the invention of alphabetical writing. 1 his inven 
 Ea no doubt, contributed infinitely to the perfeaion and pro- 
 5refs o \he fcience's. Yet at firft,.its utility muft ^^-^ ^e- incon- 
 iderable. It is only by communicating their ideas, that men can 
 improve their difcoveries. But the mere ^--^^^y^^^^l)'^^^^^ 
 fuificient for this purpofe. They wanted fome kmd of matter, flexi- 
 ' tS L% tran?po?ted. on wliich they might ^me bng difcourf^^ 
 
 witheafe and expedition: this was not ^^^^^^^^'^^^/.^^^VirfL whI* 
 Marble/ftone. brick, metals, wood, &c. were at firft ufed for writ- 
 W or rather engraving upon. When fo much time was neceffary 
 o^^r^a few fe^eucef, i^.ould not be expeaed that the fciences 
 (hnuS make a very rapid progrefs. Befides, thefe kinds of books 
 C^uKt be'ranfjortfd fn^m^place to place, but with great difo. 
 cX Accordingly we find, that the fciences remained m a ftate of 
 Trea^t'imtrfeaionaLong all the ancient nations. -Human know- 
 tdfe Kade e^ater pfogrefs within thefe laA hundred years than 
 ^n allSityf^^ to the expeditious and eafy 
 
 !id/Sv-of communicating and publifliing allour difccve. 
 4ies/ ib. €.2. ArtvVi. p. 275.. 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 219 
 
 thefe grow dally worfe: and notwithftandmg 
 this, or other limitations, which might be admit- 
 ted; yet from fome of the great outlines of na- 
 ture ^ from plain appearances, in many remark- 
 able aeras, and moft confiderable events; we feem 
 to have ftill ground fuificient to conclude, that 
 on the whole they are, and always have been, ia 
 the main, progrejjive. 
 
 Now this progrefs in arts^ will neceffarily bring 
 with it a proportionable improvement of all the 
 other natural advantages; as health, ftrength, 
 plenty, and politenefs: each of them tend, in 
 fome refpeft or other, to improve and adorn the 
 face of nature; and lead us to apply its laws to 
 our refpe6live ufes, much more efteftually, than 
 could be obtained without them. By them. we are 
 enabled to reap its feveral benefits, in ways more 
 eafy and compendious ; with lefs time, labour, 
 and expence: the world is flocked more plenti- 
 fully with inhabitants ; and each of them fupport- 
 ed in a way more elegant, and advantageous to 
 itfelf, and all around it. In ftiort, every thing in 
 life becomes more comfortable, and commodi- 
 ous : and life itfelf may be faid to attain a longer 
 date, by means of both a better, and more early 
 f^ducation *. That this has been the cafe in later 
 
 ages, 
 
 • * There is a fenfe in which thefe latter generations in general 
 have the advantage of the ancients, and in which they may oe faid 
 to ouL-live them — x'/x. in that they live more in lefs time*. It is a 
 common obfervation, that children ripen and become men fooner in 
 thefe latter ages, than formerly they did. — Notwithftanding our 
 prejudices in other refpeCts, we efteem fo well of ourfelves in this* 
 that we think we are more knowing in every fcience and profeifion 
 of life, and more capable of bafinefs than our- anceftors, not far 
 ' back* 
 
220 
 
 T^he Progrefs of 
 
 ages, feems too clear to be denied by any, who 
 will be at the leaft trouble to compare them with 
 the moft extravagant account of former ones f . 
 'Tis no great compliment to the prefent times 
 to fay, we are improved in every manual art, as 
 well as thofe of government (a), the focial ones, 
 
 and 
 
 backwards, were at double our age. And in confirmation hereof, 
 Tome traces in Scripture may be obferved, whereby it appears, that 
 the ftate of childhood continued much longer in the infancy of the 
 world, than at prefent ; and feemed to bear proportion to the greater 
 length of men's lives. And the fame is obferved by heathen authors. 
 Worth. EiT p. 422, 423. * In other claffes of animals, the indivi- 
 dual advances from infancy to age or maturity; and he attains, in 
 the compafs of a fingle life, to all the perfe^ions his natare can 
 reach ; but in the human kind, the fpecies has a progrefs as well as 
 the individual ; they build in every fubfequent age on foundations 
 formerly laid ; and in a fucceflion of years tend to a perfedion m the 
 application of their faculties, to which the aid of long experience 
 is required, and to which many generations muft have combined 
 their endeavours.' Fergu/on, Eifay on the Hift. of Civil Society, p. 7. 
 ' When nations fucceed one another in the career of inquiries and 
 difcoveries, the laft is always the moil knowing. Syftems of fciencc 
 are gradually formed. The globe itfelf is traverfed by degrees, and 
 the hillory of every age when paft is an acccfllon of knowledge to 
 thofe who fucceed. The Romans were more knowing than the 
 Greeks; and every fcholar of modern Europe is, m this fenfe. more 
 learned than the moft accomplilhed |)erfon that ever bore either of 
 
 thofe celebrated names.' ib. p. 44. ^ ^ . . , ,1. ,1. 
 
 + — « When men began to unite into focieties, to cloatn tnem- 
 felves, and build cottages, and apply themfelves to agriculture ; the 
 perfons who fell upon the firft hints of thefe rude contrivances, were 
 efteemed fuch mighty benefa6lors to mankind, that they could never 
 fuftieiently exprefs their gratitude to them. Hence they were made 
 immortal, and divine honours were paid to them ; and hence it is 
 well known arofe the godlhip of Jupiter, Bacchus, Minerya, Ceres, 
 and the reft of that tribe of deities : but there is not ^ plough-boy riow, 
 that vvpuld not have been a god, even to Jupiter himfelf; had he 
 lived in his days, with his prefent (kill in huft)andry. Had the 
 mvrtery of printing been invented in ancient times, Guttenberg of 
 }v/'«/2: might have been' a god of higher efteem throughout G.m^;/>'. 
 ^an Mercury, or Jutiter h.mfelf.' [^W.. Efl. p. 169.] \^'hich we 
 cannot think improbable, fince his afliftant Fuji ox Fauft. attained 
 the title of conjunr for it, in fo late times, and fuch a |)lace as 
 
 ''r«) The modem governments, at leaft in Europe, ar^ better calcu- 
 lated for the general good of the governed, which is now known \o 
 U the only end of government ; than the ancient ones were. 1 he 
 
 "Natural Religion and Science. 221 
 
 and even our very elegancies and amufements * : 
 
 the 
 
 world being divided into fmaller kingdoms and ftates, thefe become 
 checks upon each other, and by their mutual vigilance, the mif- 
 chievous defigns of each afpiring Prince is with more cafe and fafety 
 curbed or puniftied. [That all great empires degrade and debafe 
 the human fpecies, v. Robert/on, Hift. Ch, V. p. 3, &c.] The balance 
 of Pon,ver is kept up amongft them in general, as well as in moft cf 
 the feparate conftitutions, by a due mixture of liberty, the grand 
 prefervative of public fpirit, and beft excitement to each private 
 virtue. That horrid fpirit of heroifm, and defire of conqueft, feems 
 to be pretty well extinguifhed ; thofe deadly feuds, and defolating 
 fadions, are in a great meafure abated : and * if at prefent there are 
 fewer revolutions in Chrijiendom, 'tis, becaufe the principles of found 
 morality are more univerfally known ; men are lefs favage and fierce, 
 and their underftanJing is better cultivated ; and perhaps all this 
 25 owing to men of learning, who have poliftied Europe.^ Exam, of 
 MachiavePsfrmce, p. 18, 19. * We begin to be cured of Machia- 
 velifm, and recover from it every day. More moderation is be- 
 come neceflary in the councils of princes. What would formerly 
 have been called a mafter-ftroke in politics, would be now, inde- 
 pendent of the horror it might occafion, the greateft imprudence. 
 Happy is it for men that they are in a fituation, in which, though 
 their paflions prompt thgm to be wicked, it is however for their in- 
 tcreft to be humane and virtuous.* Monte/quieu, Spirit of Laws, B. 
 xxi. c. 16. Add /^or/^/ff^/o^'s obfervations on this fubjeft, EfT. c. 8. 
 p. 173, &c, Fergufon, EfT. p. 201. and Hume, Pol. Difc. xi. who 
 makes it appear, that human nature in general enjoys more liberty 
 at prefent, in the moft arbitrary government of Europe, than it ever 
 did during the moft flouriftiing period of ancient times. See alfo his 
 Hift. of Eng. Vol. II. which^ivcs fufficient ground for the follow- 
 ing obfervation. * Thofe who, from a pretended rcfpedl to anti- 
 quity, appeal at every turn to an original plan of the conftitution; 
 only cover their turbulent fpirit, and their privat^ ambition, under 
 the appearance of venerable forms ; and whatever period they pitch 
 on for their model, they may ftill be carried back to a more ancient 
 period, where they will find the meafures of power entirely differ- 
 ent; and where every circumftance, by reafon of the greater barba- 
 rity of the times, will appear ftill lefs worthy of imitation. Above 
 all, a civilized nation, like the Englijh, who have happily eftablilhed 
 the moft perfect and moft accurate fyftem of liberty, that ever was 
 found compatible with government ; ought to be cautious of appeal* 
 ing to the pradice of their anceftors, or regarding the maxims of 
 uncultivated ages, as certain rules for their prefent conduct, ib. c. 
 23. fin. Comp. Various Profpe<5ls of Mankind, &c. p. 94 *. Geguet 
 on the imperfeftion of ancient Governments, Vol. II:. B. vi. fin. and 
 Bp. Ellys on that of our own. Trads on Liberty, Pt. ii. or King*^ 
 Effay on the Eng. Conllitution, p. 3, Sec. where a juft account is 
 given of thefeveral conftitutions now in Europe. 
 
 • ^^^JVortb, E£ p. 210, 01 Prie/llej Pref. to Hift. of Eledricity, 
 
 p. J8. 
 
222 ^^ Progrefs of 
 
 the thing fhews itfelf every where j and 'tis na 
 lefs plain a priori, that it muft be fo. If, as the 
 Pfalmijl fays f , One day telleth another, and one night 
 certtfieth another 'y if, according to the Prophet J,- 
 many run to and fro, (travel by fea and land; and 
 thereby knowledge is increafedy if by repeated ob- 
 fervation, and experience j by frequent intercourfe 
 and extenfive commerce, the world grow (as it 
 does unavoidably) in any refpeft more perfeft; 
 this will, by that affinity, and union, long fmce 
 obferved between the parts of fcience ||, derive 
 perfe6tion on each fifter art. 
 
 The fame effea will, in a good meafure, fol- 
 low, if the world be but fuppofed to continue in 
 the fame natural ftate in which it was created, 
 and the genius of mankind keep where it was 
 
 ori- 
 
 D i8,S:c. Whether we of this nation are arrivec! at the juftftandard 
 hUUzance, or have exceeded it ; may be judged by the defcription 
 of each ftate, in the ^pperniix to a Dffertation on the ^ umbers of Man- 
 kind in Ancient and Modern Times, p. 329, &5. I ftiall add one parr 
 of it in illuftration of the words above. * If degance comes ftiortot 
 the iuft ftandard, and is not yet arrived at its proper maturity ; hu- 
 man life miyft neceflkrily be deprived of the enioyment of many 
 conveniences of which it is capable, and the manners of mankind 
 muft incline towards fiercenefs and faperftition. It carried no jar- 
 ther than the iuft limit, it produces a more commodious method ot 
 livine, gives rife to the invention of many new refinements height- 
 ens t>ie fplendor and magnificence of fociety, tends to render man- 
 kind focial and humane, begets mildnefs and moderation m the tem- 
 pers and adions of men, and helps to banilh ignorance and fuper- 
 ftition out of the world ; and thus far it contributes to the perfeaion 
 of hupan fociety.* ,> •• 
 
 + Pful. xix. 2 X Dan, xii. 4. 
 
 II Orones artes quae ad humanitatem pertinent, habent quoddam 
 commune vinculum, et quafi cognatione quadam inter fe continen- 
 tur. Cic, pro Arch, Poet. Id. de Orat, I. 3. Lft lUa Platoms vera - 
 vox, omnem doftrinam harum ingenuarum et humanarum artium 
 uno quodam focietatis vinculo contineri. // ivould be mere mpertt- 
 nenceto bring inflances in proof of this, A frong ^onnrmatiOn pf it 
 may. be fecn in Dr. Pri.JlUfs excellent Iliilory of Llcttricity, P. iv. 
 fed. 3. p. SCO, &c. 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 223 
 
 originally ^ nay, this muft be the cafe, if both do 
 not grow worfe ; and in a very great degree : much 
 greater than has ever been pretended. But as this 
 point can be no longer called in queftion, than 
 till the matter is duly ftated ; we have not fo much 
 occafion to give a direft proof of it, by defcending 
 to particulars, (which indeed would be infinite, 
 and moft of which appear too obvious to need 
 naming) [£], as to point out, what is more ma- 
 . terial, 
 
 (€) The reader may fee a lift of them In Pancirollusj de Nov. Re- 
 pert, or Almelo'veen^s Inventa Nov.-Antiqua, as alfo in Edwards, 
 Glanvilly PTotton, Sir T. P. Blount r Perauit, Gedoyn, Spratt, Hift. R. S. 
 and others, who have appeared for the moderns, as I apprehehend, 
 with fuperior advantage, in the late controverfy on tliis fubjeft. A 
 more minute detail of each improvement, and its gradual progrefs 
 in tlje world, may be feen in Goguet's Treatife on the origin of Laws^ 
 Arts, and Sciences, and their progrefs among the moft ancient na- 
 tions : or in Prieftley^ Hift. ot Philofophy, particularly under the 
 prefcnt ftate of Vifwny period i. *^ Thedifpute between the ancients 
 and moderns is at length decided, at leaft as to Philofophy. There 
 is not one of the ancient philofophers whofe works are now made 
 ufe of for the inftru£lion of youth,, in any of the inlightened na-' 
 tions,' Voltaire Hift. Vol. IX. c. 1 12. 'It cannot be denied, but 
 that the readijig of anpient authors is very ufeful to us; but, if it 
 were poiTible that we jfhould be as ancient as they are, and that they 
 fhould be in our place, and read our writings as we read theirs j 
 would they get no benefit by it? they would without doubt leara 
 more from our works, than we can from theirs.* Le Clerc. Parrha- 
 Jiana, c. 4. p. 179. To which may be added, the obfervation of 
 Bayle, * That if they were to come back to the world, they would 
 fee that many things Were fuppofed to be contained in their books> 
 which they never dreamt of.* . ^ - 
 
 After an enumeration of particalars, Ray determines that they 
 excel us chiefly in thofe.arts which are concerned in poliftiing their: 
 language. Philofophical Letters between Ray and his correfpondents,^ 
 p. 24.1. Whether the ancients or moderns were in general the 
 greater Geniitfes, feems to-be as difficult and unn^ceffary to determine, 
 as it. is foreign to our prefent inquiry. I ftiall only obferve here^ 
 that if the Latter have much greater helps and advantages in fomc 
 refpedb, which may appear to fet them below the former in thi* 
 point; yet there are others, in which they have no lefs difadvant- 
 age, particularly this of Language ; fince we are under a neceffity oF 
 learning many languages, before we can come at that ftock of know- 
 ledge which lies locked up in them;^ whereas they feldom wanted 
 above one.- 
 
■S """"" 
 
 224 57j^ Progrefs of 
 
 terial, and perhaps lefs taken notice of, tlie far- 
 ther conneaion which x\\\^ progrefs of arts has with 
 our religious knowledge, of each kind. 
 
 By religion in general, I mean the way of pro- 
 moting our mod perfecT: happinefs upon the 
 whole, in this life; as well as qualifying us for, 
 and by particularly recommending ourfelves to, 
 the divine favour, entitling us to higher degrees 
 of it in the next. Now the knowledge of this, 
 whether natural or revealed, will appear to have 
 held pace in general with all other knowledge, 
 from the beginning; and thefe three branches of 
 fcience feem to have been, in the main, fimilar 
 and fynchronous ; as indeed they ought to be, 
 or elfe perpetual difappointment, mifery, and 
 confufion would enfue; as was obferved in part 
 
 before*- 
 
 The firfl: race of men had as much knowledge 
 imparted to them, moft probably by God himfelf, 
 as they could either then want, or well be ca- 
 pable of; as much as they had either means or 
 leifure to employ; and higher notices, could they 
 have been attended to, would, wc conceive, rather 
 have diftraftcd, and rendered them uneafy m 
 their then fituation ; and tended to difqualify 
 them for their more immediate occupations, in 
 that part of life. They were placed in a world 
 capable of affording all gratifications fuited to 
 their mortal frame, and made for its fupport ; and 
 were defigned to glorify their Maker's goodnefs 
 in the enjoyment of them for fome time here ; 
 
 as 
 
 • Part i. p. 8, 9, 10. 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 225 
 
 as well as to expert a reparation of its decays, 
 with farther and more full manifeftations of the 
 fame goodnefs, fomewhere hereafter. Their fiift 
 employ then, was, to learn the prefent ufe, and 
 application of thefe natural benefits themfelves, as 
 well as to lay a foundation for communicating, 
 and extending them to future generations; which 
 were to inhabit the fame place, for many ages. 
 And accordingly, their notions of the world, and 
 of its Governor, and confequent opinions in re- 
 ligion, both natural and pofitive ; were fuch as 
 might be expefted from men in fuch circum- 
 fiances *. As to the latter, and more efpecially 
 that great article of it which concerned the re- 
 ftauration of human nature; they had only a ge- 
 neral, indeterminate expeftation of fome redeem- 
 er or other ; who was fome time to arife among 
 them f : which yet was very fufficient to keep up 
 their hopes, and fecure a truft and dependence 
 on their Creator; efpecially when revived by fo 
 many earnefts of prefent, temporal bleflings : but 
 when, or where, or upon what plan, that redemp- 
 tion was to be worked, they knew not; and per- 
 haps it might be unnecefTary to impart this fully 
 to them, as it was probably above their compre- 
 henfion. To preferve an intercourfe with the Di- 
 vine Being, it is likewife probable that they had 
 pofitive direflions about confecrating to him a 
 
 part 
 
 • What thefe opinions might be, is at large defer! bed hyWindert 
 Hifl. of Knowl. Vol. I. c. 2. fed. 2. though whether our firlt pa- 
 rents thought fo clearly on thefuhjea, as this author, and tho/e celebratsd 
 moderns he there mentions, [p. 36.] I much queftion. 
 
 t See Bp. Sherlock, Ufe and Intent of Proph. fed. i. or IVindir, 
 Hift, of Knowl. p. .26, 27, 
 
j^26 'J^e Progrcfs of 
 
 part of their goods, together with the times an^ 
 Lees for prelenting this before him, by way of 
 acknowledgment of his prefent bounty and a^- 
 pUcation for the continuance of it > an^/f "^ 
 deprecation of his difpleafure, whenever they be- 
 came fenfible of having incurred it by abufmg that 
 bounty, and laftly. as a fettled, ftated means of 
 always having accefs to him, and findmg accept- 
 ance with him. Hence was the ongm of fam^ 
 Jices\ as they are diftingtufhed into exptatory, 
 eukah and Lharijlical ; and this feems to have 
 been the fubftance of the primitive religion; 
 which was as plain, and fimple as the times. 
 
 When the notions of mankind grew moie 
 complex, religion by degrees became fo too, and 
 fpread itfelf , together with their other notices , all 
 which were in fome meafure fupplemental and 
 (UbfidiaiT to it. Each new degree of knowledge 
 in each part of nature, was a new oi^ennig of 
 the human mind> ftiU more and more d.fplaymg 
 the Divine Wiftlom and goodnefs, in the original 
 conftitution of things, and conftruction of an - 
 r^als; as well as in the conftant, regular prefer- 
 ^ationOf each fpecies of them, and pomtmg out 
 Seir various ends and ufes , thereby enabhng 
 man to whom they were all fubjeaed, to enter 
 Ser into this conftitution himfelf, as weU b^ 
 receiving the benefits thereof more perfcaiy. ^S 
 by refem^ling his Creator in diftributmg the lair^ 
 Jorecopioufly, and both ways, paying his moft 
 
 * SeePartH. p. ^i- »ote i. »nd f- 5^. 53. not« k, .nd 1. wi^ 
 Winder on th« fubjeft, p> JO' 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 227 
 
 acceptable tribute of duty, and devotion to the 
 common Parent. 
 
 When the lives of men began to fhorten, we 
 ^ find arts increafing much fafter in proportion , as 
 It was fit they fliould, fince otherwife, many dif- 
 coveries would drop before they could be brought 
 to any tolerable perfeaion, or applied to ufej 
 there being then no other repofitory for fiich, 
 befide the memory of their inventors : till at 
 length came the art of writing, which drew a- 
 long with it all the reft, helping at once to fpread, 
 and to perpetuate them. And it is worth obferv- 
 mg, as was juft hinted before *, that about the 
 fame time, more frequent, and more full revela- 
 tions were communicated to the world , which 
 thereby became better qualified to receive, keep, 
 and convey them, as they were likewife dif-' 
 penfed in a way beft fuited to its own ftate, 
 and which moft efl^baually fupplied its wants, and 
 tended to give greater light and improvement 
 both to it, and one another: as may be feen par- 
 ticularly in Part II. 
 
 We have feen in fome meafure, how the cafe 
 ftood both with religion and fcience, in the ante- 
 diluvian and patriarchal ages ; and are fufficientw- 
 
 ..^^^'■^"•uP- ,'.^7. add Winder, Hift. of K. p. 22 f, 222. 'A dif- 
 covery of this kind [an Alphabetic Charafter] at the period whea 
 ITovidcncc thought proper to contraa the term of human life with- 
 m the narrow boundary of fcventy years, became neceflary to ad- 
 vance the Drogrefs of fcience, as well as to enlighten and prepare 
 mens minds once more for the reception of revealed truths, which 
 had been fo generally perverted [by that idolatry whereof fymboli- 
 cal wnting was the great fource] in order to prevent fuch a pervex. 
 lion of It for the future.' Conjedutal ObfervatioM on Alphabetic 
 Wnung, 1772. ^ '^^ """^^'^ 
 
 P2 
 
228 The Progrefs of 
 
 ly acquainted with thofe alterations it leceived 
 under the JfraeUtes, and 7^^ by various addi- 
 tional inftltutions, and a fuccelTion of prophets : 
 not very unlike to v/hich, was a light held forth 
 to the eaft, by their great oracles, Zoroafler. and 
 Confucius; and to moft parts of the weft, by a 
 long ferles of their philofophers ; as is obferved 
 
 in the fame place *. , ^/ -/i 
 
 To thefe, in its proper feafon, fucceeds Chrtjt- 
 lamtvi of which there fcarcely is occafion to re- 
 mark, that it furpafled them all, as much as the 
 times of its promulgation were fuperior, in all 
 kinds of knowledge, to the paft> and which was 
 evidently as great an improvement upon natural 
 religion, properly fo called, as it vvas «pon .^"7 
 of the former difpenfations j and might, I think, 
 with juft the fame propriety, be termed a baie 
 revival, or republication of the one, as of the 
 other. Though perhaps there may be fome roonj 
 h doubt, whether even thofe ages, enlightened 
 as they were above the former, were capable of 
 receiving all the improvement which it was fitted 
 and defigned to givej whether the world was 
 vet able to admit It, in its utmoft purity and per- 
 feaion. On the contrary, there feem to have been 
 fo many dregs left of Jewip fuperftition. and 
 Gentile phllofophy, as required a long time to 
 purge away: and from one of which it had no 
 Lner got well clear, than it became immerfed, 
 and clouded in the other f . Even in its early 
 days, we find it loaded with the. rcfufe of each 
 ' fvltern^ 
 
 » Ibul. p. 12J 
 
 I Part ii. p. 159' 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 229 
 
 fyftem ; which was brought in to explain myfte^ 
 ries, or rather make them, in the gofpel : till by 
 degrees, itfelf is made a matter of high fpecula- 
 tion, and refinement; and fuch nice difputes J 
 raifed about the natures of its author, and the 
 modus of their union ; alfo concerning the abftrafl 
 nature, and feparate fubfiftence of the human 
 foul ; as ferved, one of them to fill the eaftern 
 church with blood and defolation, and at length 
 fubjeft it to the Mahometan yoke; for which alone 
 it feemed at that time fitted*; the other to in- 
 troduce the doctrine of purgatory, and with it a 
 long train of popijh errors ; which ended in a 
 weftern tyranny, no lefs fevere, over both foul 
 and body ^. 
 
 Both thefe fe6ls have indeed a long while op- 
 preffed the Chrijiian world; and if they be aho- 
 gether fo bad as we have been ufed to efteem 
 them, the continuance of them is not at prefent 
 eafily accounted for: but we hope, they may be 
 found really not fuch§; and that the fame wife 
 
 and 
 
 X See ConJlaKtim\ excellent letter on this fubjed in Eufeh. de Vit. 
 Conji. c. 66, d-j, &c. add Bmver's Hift. of the Popes, Vol. II. paffim.* 
 
 * Part ii. p. 171. note n. 
 
 t Some explanation of the latter of thefe two grand articles has 
 been hazarded in the following Difcourfe on Death, with the Jp^ 
 penJix ; the former mud be referved till the times will bear a more 
 impartial and unprejudiced enquiry than they feem capable of ad- 
 mitting at prefent, while fo many penal laws furround it, 
 
 0' * Popery iifelf (fays Dr. Worthington, Eff. p. 156.) begins to be 
 aOiameJ of fome of its gro/Ter errors; and its divines of late have 
 been forced to explain them in a manner more agreeable to truth and 
 fcripture ' [And the fame thing may be obferved of the Mahometan 
 do(5lors in their comments upon the Koran, as appears remarkably all 
 through Salc'% notes.] * Moreover, that perfecuting fpirit, whicij 
 was the reproach and fcandal of Chrifiians, is, God be praifed^ in a 
 good meafure abated among all forts and denominations of them ^• 
 
 ^ I and 
 
230 'i'he Progrefs of 
 
 and good ends will appear to be accompliftied by 
 them, in due time, either before or at their expi- 
 ration, as have been evident in moft other dif- 
 
 penfations *. 
 
 However, at the next great aera, which is jiift- 
 ly ftyled the Reformation, there appeared fufficient 
 tokens of this progrefs in general knowledge, we 
 have been maintaining 5 and thefe fucceeding fo 
 faft one upon another, that they cannot efcape 
 the flighteft obfervation f. Here the above- 
 mentioned branches of it are again united, and 
 affording mutual affiftance, and fupport to one 
 
 an- 
 
 and we do not row hear fo much of Chriftians being burnt and tor- 
 turcd by Chriftians. Nor do Fapifts at prefent feem to ihirft fo much 
 after Proteftant blood ; though there is reafon to fufpcd that they ftill 
 retain too much of the old leaven, durft they fuffcr it to work out. 
 It is obferved likewife, that there is not that ignorance and immo- 
 rality to be obiefted againft the Pafifts now, as fonv.efiy ; learning 
 bcine no lefs propagated among them, than Proteftants: many good 
 and pious books ar? publifhedV their clergy; nor are they fo very 
 fcandalous in their lives, as in the ages preceding the Reformation ; 
 k>ut they in general are exemplary in their behaviour, and aftord u» 
 patterns in iome things which we might profit by.' The like has 
 been obferved of the Af^^w^/«w above. ^ 
 
 Concerning the influence of improvements in l^*«"5f ^" *?%? ''V 
 fent ftate and progrefs of reformation in religion, fee Mojhem s ILCCl. 
 Hift. hy Macklaim, 8vo. Vol. V. App. 2. p. 104. &c. 
 ♦ 0/ which fee more in part ii. p. 173, and 180, notes, 
 t Seefome of the particulars in Partii. p. 181. ^n^Worthtngton s 
 iccount of the progrefs of learning after its revival, Eff. p. 20o,Scii. 
 To which we may add, that the avenues to learning of all kinds have 
 been planned out and opened by Ld. Bacon; the mature and moft 
 intimate receffes of the human mind unfolded and explained by 
 Locke; the frame and conftitution of the univerfe by Ne-^ton; (to 
 name no other writers of our own) in a more perfed manner, than 
 ever was done or attempted, fmce the foundation of the World. 
 Eundo per prscipua fcientiarum quibus eruditionis circulus abfolvi;; 
 tur genera, demonftrare pofTem doaorum virorum labore et mduftna 
 ad iftud faftieium deduda pleraque, fimulque methodo um concinna 
 tamque perfpicue propofita. ut juvenibus hodie eo pervemre facilQ 
 ftt quorfum olim L\Ls vix adfpirare licuit. BuMtu de bonarum 
 literarum decrcmcnto noftra scute non temx^ metucndo, A. y, 
 
 17 I>^. 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 23 1 
 
 another. Science of all kinds, human and di- 
 vine, revives ; and with it come new methods of 
 communication ; (or rather it rifes as much a- 
 bove the paft, as thefe exceeded all others before 
 them;) and fince has been continuing to im* 
 prove, and to draw with it all collateral advan* 
 tages, down to the prefent times* 
 
 The more we ftill know of human nature, and 
 become better verfed in the art of living ; (and 
 who doubts but we do fo daily ?) the more en* 
 larged and adequate notions muft we have of na» 
 tural religion \ and thereby be better able tc> 
 judge of, and apply revealed*: the more ac- 
 quainted we are with the faculties of our own 
 fouU the better qualified muft we be to regulate 
 and improve them ; to dire^ the reafoning pow- 
 er, affift the memory, refine the imagination ; in 
 each of which points very confiderable difcove- 
 ries have been made of late : the more we know 
 of the body , the more able we are to prefcribe a 
 regimen, and remedy the fever al diforders of it : 
 and (though it feems to be the intent of Provi^ 
 dence, for reafons obvious enough -f-, that phyjic 
 in particular, (hould not receive the fame degree* 
 of improvement with fome other arts, yet) per- 
 haps it would not be hard to prove, were this a 
 place for it^ tliat we are actually able to e^eft this, 
 
 in 
 
 • Vid. Walcbii Qrat. de Incrcmentis quae noftra aetate Stud, 
 Theol. cepit; recitat. mdccxxv. 
 
 f Some of the many ill confequences of its being In the powcf 
 of phyficians to prolong the life of a tyrant, oppreflbr, &c beyond 
 the common date, may be feen in Sherlock on Death, c, 3, fc6l. z^ j. 
 f^nd the lail Difcourfe here annexed, p. 
 
 P4 
 
 I 
 I 
 
232 ^he Progrefs of 
 
 in a more perfe6l manner now than formerly J; 
 that rather our obfervations on the' diforders, 
 and defeds in each of thefe have multiphed than 
 the diforders and defefts themfelves ; excepting 
 fome fuch as probably arife, and propagate them- 
 felves, from fome particular, reigning vices ||. 
 
 The more we know of the world, the more we 
 view its order, beauty, fym.metry ; the uniform ^ 
 laws which it is governed by ; the juft arrange- 
 ment, and mutual fubferviency of all its parts ; 
 (and I need not obferve how much this kind of 
 learning has of late increafed*;) the more wc 
 
 fee 
 
 X « This art is wonderfully fimplificd of late years, has received 
 great additions, and is improving every day, both in iimplicity and 
 efficacy.' Hartley, Vol. II. p. 378. ., , i. 
 
 II If fome new diftempers have arifen of late, 'tis likely others 
 of an older date have ceafed ; as is obftrv^.d by D. Le Clerc, 
 * Fuerant ergo morbi, nonnullorum fiderurn r.iilar, orti certo tem- 
 pore, pollea extinfti funt ; funtque alii, quos ortos quidem non ita 
 pridem novimus, fed quorum finem nondum videmus.* Dificrt de 
 Lepra Mo/aica, p. 9. Several inftances occur in Barchu/eti, de Me- 
 die. Orig. et Piog. Diif. v. fed. 6, r - r r^r 
 
 * Of this, and the benefit the world receives from it, lee Pf or^ 
 thington, Eff. p. 94, &c. * And \i natural philof op hy in all its pr.rts, 
 by purfuing this method, fhall at length be perfeded, the bounds 
 oi moral philo/ophy will alfo be enlarged.' NenAjt, Opt. B. iii * Since 
 things really differ in themfelves, in our ufe cf them, and in our 
 condua about them ; the more we know them, the more we may 
 improve both our virtue and our power of converting them to the 
 real advantage both of ourfelves and others : and fmce our own ac- 
 tions, and elpecially our moral habits, have fo mighty an influence 
 to perfed or to debafe us ; the more we know ourfelves and the 
 u'onderful ceconomy of our moral frame, the better we (hall be en- 
 abled to adjuft that happy temperament, to maintain that reguhir 
 fubordination of our faculties, appetites, and affcdtions, in which fo 
 great a part of our virtue and our happinefs confifts. Every ad- 
 vance therefore in the obfervation of nature carries with it a pro- 
 portionable improvement of the moral fcience. And not only the 
 bounds of this fcience are extended, as we enlarge our profped of 
 the difpofition and events of things ; but the certainty of it is moft 
 fatisfafiorily evinced, when we difcern an uniform and eftablifhed 
 analogy between their natural conflitution, which our fenfes per- 
 ceive 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 2 -5 -J 
 
 fee the glory, and perfeftion of its Architea ; and 
 are more fully fatisfied that he defigned its feveral 
 inhabitants for happinefs in general ; and muft 
 approve of every regular, confiftent method which 
 they take to promote it. 
 
 Such obfervations on the prefent world, enable 
 us hkewife to argue from it to another-, and con- 
 elude that this other will probably go on in the 
 hke way ; as confifting of the like inhabitants, and 
 conduced by the fame hand. As the prefent 
 world has generally improved hitherto, we may 
 expea that, for the fame reafons, (be they what 
 they will) it fhall continue to do fo; and that the 
 next will hkewife be ftiU more and more improv- 
 mg: and by the fame rule, perhaps each part 
 and member of it, in its refpeftive order, and 
 proportion ; every diftinft clafs, as it rifes above 
 others, through all that fcale of beings which 
 exift together, may preferve the fame uniformity 
 in point offuccejjion too ; may follow upon each 
 other, in no lefs regular progrefs, in a growing 
 happinefs, through all eternity : and thus the 
 wholecreation be, every way, for ever beautifying 
 m Its Maker's eye, and ftiU drawing nearer to 
 him by degrees of refemblance ; as is fuggefted 
 py an elegant writer*. 
 
 To thefe deduftions of reafon, revelation adds 
 
 new light, and confirmation ; (as it is in like 
 
 , ^ man- 
 
 ceive, and that moral conftitution, which religion fuppofes.' Tun 
 • S^eiiator, N°. iii. 
 
234 "^^^ Pr-ogrefs of 
 
 manner itfelf illuftrated and eftablifhed by them :) 
 it carries on and completes the notices of natural 
 religion ; and improves the profpeft, by exprefs 
 declarations of the unlimited goodnefs of our 
 Creator towards all his works ; by giving us in 
 particular, a pofitive affurance that we (hall be 
 exaftly difpofed of in another ftate, according to 
 our refpeftive deferts, and qualifications : fixing 
 and afcertaining our hopes of arriving at thofe 
 bleffed manjions ; where we (hall find room for the 
 free exercife, and full enjoyment of each good 
 moral habit, and intelleaual accomplifliment : 
 furniftiing ample motives for our perfeverance in 
 this courfe, and guarding againft every deviation 
 from it > efpeciaily againft that very dangerous 
 attendant on the nobleft difpofitions, pride, and 
 felf.fufficiency : keeping us in a ftrift depend, 
 ence on that God, who is to be both our guide 
 thither, and our great reward there j in whofe 
 hands we always are, and ought to wilh our- 
 fdves ; and to whofe bounty alone we owe, and 
 ftiould be always veiy fenfible that we do owe, 
 every good and every perfeSi gift *. ^ 
 
 Laftly : The more we trace the ways of Provi- 
 dence in the moral world, as alfo the manner of 
 condufting every dijpenfation of revealed religion ; 
 (and we have had much better means of tracing 
 each of them -,) we fee more of the defigns, and 
 purpofes of each, than thofe before us could ; 
 and from the manner in which this profpcd ha« 
 
 already opened, have ground to tliink it will ftiU 
 
 more 
 
 ♦ Jafftej i. I7» 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 235 
 
 more and more enlarge ; and though we are yet 
 far from being able to comprehend the whole 
 fcheme, (which is not to be wondered at in be- 
 ings, which fo lately fprung from nothing {) yet we 
 do comprehend enough already, to convince us 
 that there is a wife and good one, laid from the 
 beginning, and executed in a regular gradation ; 
 and from thence alfo can infer, that it will ftiU be 
 farther anfwering its feveral ends, and ftill ap* 
 pearing more to do fo : that the manner how this 
 is to receive its completion will unfold itfelf, as^ 
 we proceed in the ftudy of it ; adding our own 
 obfervations to thofe of times paft, and comparing 
 Jpiritual things with fpiritual\ as we do thofe of 
 the ;z^/«r^/ world with one another; whereby we 
 have difcovered feveral of its general laws, un- 
 known to former ages, and probably by them 
 judged undifcoverable : and from fome others, 
 juft beginning to difcover themfelves *, find more 
 room daily to believe, that the cafe will be the 
 lame with thofe who (hall come after us. 
 
 And thus it may be made appear, that the 
 means of knowledge natural^ morale and revealed^ 
 have been imparted, in a much more ample man- 
 ner than ever, to us^ on whom the ends of the world 
 are come. Why a more proper application of them 
 does not follow ; why a proportional improve- 
 ment of thefe fame advantages is not at all times 
 made ; as this feems not to have a neceflary con- 
 pefition with the former, it muft be accounted 
 
 for 
 
 • V. Priefil/t IJiil. of Elpftricity. 
 
2^6 "fhe Progrefs of 
 
 for on other principles (y). Whether by all thefc 
 means the world might, and ought to have more 
 
 true 
 
 (y) The fame grand principle o( human liherty, which renders it 
 morally impofllble for any thing relating to the minds or circum- 
 fiances of mankind, to remain long in a Itate of perfed uniformity, 
 as obferved above, [Part i.*p. i6, note c] may go a good way to- 
 wards accounting for that partial and unequal manner of implant- 
 ing, propagating, and pre(erving any religious notices among man- 
 kind, from the beginning of the world to this day ; as well as for 
 their va.ious degrees of either improving under, or negledling and 
 abufing thefe, together with all the other gifts of Providence ; and 
 thereby making way for farther difpenfations in fucceeding ages, 
 fuiiable thereto : and though 1 am fenfible, that what has been ad- 
 vanced with regard to the fuitabknefs of every difpenfation to the 
 exigencies of the world, and fo as to effed a gradual improvement, m 
 thelnoft general fenfe; may feem at firft fight to require a great ma- 
 ny qualifications ; from the long reign ofidolatry before, and du- 
 ring the '^e'wijh eftablilhment ; and from the like lamentable ftateof 
 Pa^amfm^\\\ \ together with that of P5»/^ry zxidiMohammedifmj under 
 the gofpel : yet even granting this in its full force; allowing both 
 for every general corruption of religion through mod of the climet 
 and ages of the world ; and the particular degeneracy thereof m fe- 
 veral parts and periods of the fame : - yet if we judge of its ftate, 
 fas we ufe to form a ftandard for human nature] not from the very 
 worfl and moft brutal parts thereof, or from places where it lies un- 
 der the mofl unnatural reftraints ; but rather from the beft point of 
 lieht, in which it may be placed, among the wifer and more fober 
 part of its profefTors in each fed; and meafure its proficiency m 
 f)me of thofe nations where <;ommon fenfe has had room to exert it* 
 felf, and common honefly and ingenuitv been fuffered to mix with 
 It in any decree ; - where the free ufe of the underftanding has 
 been once adinitted in religious matters : - [and where this is not 
 the cafe with any people, religjion is quite out of the queaion ; be- 
 ine no more concerned in their affairs, than as mere matter of form, 
 or fome political machine ] - If we take fuch a view of religion, 
 and put the beft fenfe on each point which it feems capable of, and 
 which the ableft of its advocates admit, or have advanced m its de- 
 fence • — [without which, we are only going to delude ourfelves ; J 
 —If we allow their due weight to thole different gloffes put upon 
 fome of its oddcfl points of dodrine anddifapline, itsfeemingly un- 
 accouniable rites and ceremonies ; — and to the feveral fpecious mo, 
 tives for either tolerating, or eft blifhing fuch. among a people ftu- 
 nid enou<rh to approve them, and fcarce capable of relifhmg better : 
 •- if welmake our inquiry into the ftate and progrefs ot religioo. 
 through the whole world in this fair and free manner, and take care 
 to fet out low enough at firft, much lower, I conceive, than has been 
 commonly imagined ; [1 mean, not fo much in refped of the divyie 
 levelations themfelves, ^s men's capacity of reafoning upon them. 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 237 
 
 true religiony and found morals^ now than for- 
 merly 3 will fcarcely admit a doubt : but whether 
 
 It 
 
 and their difpofition to apply them :] if we refleft on the fame flow 
 gradual increafe of corruptions, in this and eytry other point ; and 
 their as flow and gradual remedy : — - if we confider the many dif- 
 ficulties that attend the railing and keeping up a tolerable fpirit of 
 liberty and ingenuity in any people for any time : — the many 
 dangerous abules to which liberty itfelf lies conftantly expofed : 
 --(- the difficulty of preferving proper care and induftry ; — a right 
 fenfe of, and attention to, their interefts; — a purity of morals, and 
 integrity of heart; — or of reftoring thefe in any country where 
 they have begun to decline; — if we refledl upon the world's con- 
 tinual pronenefs and propenfity to a decline in thefe refpedts, — to- 
 gether with the caufes of all this ; — we fhall not, I believe, be 
 much furprifed at the fame happening in religion ; or imagine its 
 courfe to be either unconformable to, or altogether unconne6ted 
 with, that of all common things about us. Again, as its evident con- 
 tiedlion with fome of the things above mentioned muft oblige us to 
 allow of frequent lets, and long retrogradations, in the courfe of 
 religious knowledge, in moft parts of the world ; fo the relation 
 which it bears to, and the advantage it receives from others, may 
 perhaps authorife us to fuppofe that this courfe, like to that of 
 theirs, will, notwithftanding fuch, ftill be in the main, and at thiP 
 long-run appear to have been, rtzWy trogreffive. Thus, from the 
 very nature and importance of the forementioned benefits, it feems, 
 that when thefe once get footing any where, they will gain ground, 
 and propagate themfelves to other places, and draw along with 
 them every thing of confequence that has a near relation to them ; 
 and when religious knowledge ftands in this relation, as it docs of- 
 ten unavoidably ; it muft even in the common courfe of things 
 (^contrary to the nature of mere ignorance, or matters of empty 
 peculation, and idle curiofity ;] it willfupport and fpread its main 
 and moft important branches, [fuch as the fupremacy and fuperin- 
 tendance of fome one God, and a ftate of final retribution, &c. 
 which have been, and are every where preferved among the hea- 
 then. See Part i. p. 34. and Grot, de V. R. C. L. iv. c. 12. J and 
 thereby both promote, and be itfelf promoted by, the general ad- 
 vances of the world ; 2.i\di Jynchronize with moft of its more valuable 
 improvements. [See Hartiey'% Obf. Vol. I. p. 366 ] That this muft 
 be the cafe, in fome degree, we feem to have fufHcient grounds for 
 proving a priori : and from a true ftate of they^^7, with all its cir- 
 cumftances, tis probable, that this »vould not appear, even now, to 
 be repugnant 10 it on the whole : however, that fome time or 
 other poffibly we may difcover things to ftand thus ; or at leaft 
 have room to fuppofe that they appear fo in the eye of the great 
 Governor of the univerfe \ fwho fieth not in this refpe(ft as man feeth. 
 *Tis plain, <i// times and places are not equally adapted to the in- 
 trodudion of difcovcries either in common fcience or religion : and 
 
238 The Progreft of 
 
 it a6lually has or not, becomes a very different 
 
 en- 
 
 it fcems no lefs clear, from what we now know of the vf}io\tJe<wtfi 
 difpenlation, and the frequent revelations that accompanied it; 
 [which were at firft all put under a carnal cover, in order to engage 
 the warmeft of their affeaions, and induce them to take that care^ 
 which otherwife they would not have taken in the keeping of them ; 
 (See lowtb'^ Direaions, p. 161, &c.) and afterwards thefe were 
 wnfolded by degrees, and illuftrated as the day-ftar began to arifc 
 in their hearts ;] and from what has been obferved of the age 
 wherein C/»ri/?;iJ«//y itfelf was publilhcd, [Confiderations, p. 154, 
 —6, 181.] that men have not been alivays capable of receinjin^ alt 
 the Ught UVinder Vol. II. p. 336.] from each religious mftitution, 
 which it was fitted ever to convey, juft at the time luhen it *was fir/I 
 introduced into the nuorld. It may perhaps be deemed fufficient if 
 they, to whom any fuch was given, were fo far qualified to hear and 
 profit by it, Confiderations, p. 184.] as to receive fomewhat of it 
 themfelvcs, and hand it doWn to others in a competent degree of pu- 
 rity ; and give it fuch a {^xt foundation in the world, as may fup- 
 port it till all circumftances fhall concur which mull contribute to 
 Its fulne/s, and carry it on to ajlate of maturity. Many of thefe cir- 
 cumilances feem for fome time to have been concurring in forac 
 parts of the world, and therefore may be looked on as fo many na- 
 tural means co-operating to produce this eiFea there, m the gene- 
 ral theory of religion ; allowing for the variations iliuing from that 
 principle oi freedom above-mentioned. And if we view the prefent 
 growth of fcience in thofe parts of the world which we are bcft ac- 
 quainted with ; and the eftabliftied methods of preferving and per- 
 petuating it; remembering the conneaion each of thefe has with 
 the reft, and with any religious enquiries, as well as others to which 
 they may be applied ; to which application likewife we feem to be 
 now no lefs difpofed : -confidering this, 1 fay, it is fcarcely poffi. 
 ble to think that fuch improvements (hould either themfelves be e- 
 ver wholly loft among mankind, or not become the means of rai- 
 fine and refining others ; and thereby of accelerating a certain pro. 
 srrX and advancing it to greater heights, m that oi religious, as well 
 1 every branch oi common knowledge ; at leaft that this appears to be 
 on the recovering hand, (though under fome degree of ftruggle.) 
 and rifine higher and fafter by their means, than it could ever be 
 conceived to nfe without them : which is, I humbly apprehend, as 
 much as I am concerned to maintain at prcfent : and ftiaU conclude 
 with the obfervation of a learned friend as fo lows. The divine 
 difpenfations were not intended to force men to be virtuous j which 
 indeed is a contradiaion. Under any difpenfation men may, and 
 will be wicked. For [Dan, xii. ic] while marry are purified, and 
 made 'white and tried (even by the wickedncfs of their con tempora- 
 ries) the 'Wicked JhaU do 'wickedly, under the brighteft difpenfation 
 thcY will walk on in darknefs, and none of ihcm/hall u^icrjiurd ; but 
 the 'Wife only IhaU undnftand. To the fame purpofe. Rfv. xxii. 11 . 
 How general therefore foever an apoftafy may be, many ^^vea^bj 
 
 3 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. ^l<^ 
 
 enquiry *. Though perhaps fomething might be 
 
 faicj in favour of the prcfent times, in both re- 
 
 Ipefts, 
 
 Firft: 
 
 that very apoftafy, and the perfecution which attends it, may be 
 tried, made white and purified, according to the brighter and more 
 refined nature and principles of the difpenfation. Confequently the 
 wickednefs, even greater wickednefs of the wicked, doth not prove 
 a retrogradation in moral or religious principles. For the advances 
 of religion arc not to be meafured by the wicked, who will do 
 wickedly, and will ftill be unjuftand filthy, how numerous foeveri 
 but only by the wife and righteous, who underftand and make a 
 proper ufe of the divine difpenfations. By this rule true religioa 
 may have ftill been advancing in the world. 
 
 • * It does appear to me very probable, to fay the leaft, that 7#w* 
 tnd Chrifiians, notwithftandine all their vices and corruptions, have, 
 upon the whole, been always better than heathens and unbelievers. 
 It feems to me alfo, that as the knowledge of true, pure, and per- 
 fea religion is advanced and diffufed more and more every day ; 
 fo the praaice of it correfponds thereto : but then this, from the 
 nature of the thing, is a taa of a lefs obvious kind : however, if 
 it be true, it will become manifeft in due time. Let us fuppofe a 
 perfon to maintain, that civil government, the arts of life, medi- 
 cines, &c. have never been of ufe to mankind ; becaufe it does not 
 appear from any certain calculation, that the fum total of health and 
 happinefs is greater among the polite nations, than among the bar- 
 barous ones. Would it not be thought a fufficient anfwer to this, 
 to appeal to the obvious good effeas of thefe things in innumerable 
 inftances, without entering into a calculation, impoflible to be 
 made ? However, it does nere alfo appear, that, as far as we are 
 able to judge, civilized countries are, upon the whole, in a more 
 happy ftate, than barbarous ones, in all thefe refpcas.* Hartley^ s 
 Oblervations on Man, &c. Vol. II. ^. 176. 
 
 To the fame purpofe are the refleaions of another judicious writer; 
 who, after defcribing one of themoft ftiocking inftance* of barbarity 
 ajrtbng the Americans, adds, * It will point out to us the advantages 
 of a religion that teaches a compaflion to our enemies, which is nei- 
 ther known nor praaifed in other religions ; and it will make us 
 more fenfible, than fome appear to be, of the value of commerce, 
 the arts of a civilized life, and the lights of literature ; which if they 
 have abated the force of fome of the natural virtues, by the luxury 
 which attends them ; have taken out likewife the fting of our na- 
 tural vices, and foftened the ferocity of the huma^i race, without 
 enervating their courage.* Account of the European Settlements in 
 America, Vol. I. p. 192. Whether the Chinefe or Turks are not ft II 
 more wicked than the Chriftians, may be feen in the authors x^itxr^di 
 to by Benfin, Reafonablene/s of Chrift, Rcl. App. p. 303* 4^dd Me- 
 moirsof Dr. L/?r^«rr, p. 81, 82, 
 
240 The Progrefs of 
 
 Firft: That we exceed the wifeft among an- 
 cient heathens, who either praftifed, or at leaft 
 permitted, and connived at the worfhip of mon- 
 ftrous deities, and moft unnatural rites, is readily- 
 allowed; and with reafon attributed to the fupe- 
 riority of the Ckrijlian difpenfation ; in compari- 
 fon with which, former ages are juftly termed day^ 
 of darknefs: and that we of the Reformation, as 
 much excel the dark times of monkery, in rational 
 true piety, might perhaps be as eafily granted ; 
 and with equal juftice afcribed to the fuperior 
 knowledge, that we have of our own difpenfation. 
 We have indeed lefs (hew and ceremony, now 
 than ever ; lefs of th.^ form of godlinefs in gene- 
 ral; but 'tis hoped, not lefs of the real power. 
 Unprofitable aufterities are rather changed for 
 that more reafonable fervice, and refined devotion, 
 which renders the Deity amiable, and the imi- 
 tation of him ufeful to mankind ; which makes 
 each worlhipper more happy in himfelf, and help- 
 ful to his fellow creatures *. There feems to be 
 
 much 
 
 • * They take very unprofitable pains, who endeavour to perfuade 
 men that they are obliged wholly to defpife this world, and all that 
 is in it, even whilft they themfelves live here. God hath not taken 
 all that pains in forming and framing, and furnilhing thi& world, 
 that they who were made by him to live in it fliould defpife it; it 
 will be enough, if they do not love it fo immoderately, as to prefer 
 it before him who made it : nor Ihould we endeavour to extend the 
 notions of ihejioick philofophers, and to ftretch them farther by the 
 help of ChrilHan precepts, to the extinguiihing ail thofe affedion* 
 and paflions, which are and will always be infeparable from human 
 nature; and which it were to be wifhed, that mair Chriftjans could 
 govern and fupprcfs and regulate, as well as many of thofc heathen 
 philofophers uJed to do. M long as the world Jallb, and honour 
 and virtue and induftry have reputation in the world, tiicre will be 
 lunbition and emulation and appetite, in the bfU t^uxl moil accom- 
 
 Natural Religion end Science. 241 
 
 much lefs of fuperftition, and reliance on fuch 
 things as can at bell be but ?nca?is to religion, and 
 often hardly that; nay, rather tend to take men 
 off the proper principle, and fubftitute another 
 very different in its room; teaching them to 
 compound for real goodnefs, the fubftance of all 
 true religion, by that which has not fo much as 
 e^^en its fliadow ; and leading them to contend 
 about that with fuch a temper, as could not 
 poffibly be exercifed, or entertained, in any thing 
 that bore a near relation to the other: It feems, I 
 fay, as if there were lefs of all this ; and that there 
 would be lefs yet, would all thofe who perceive 
 its remains, unite in oppofition to it, with that 
 zeal and fobernefs, which true religion only can 
 
 infpire. 
 
 As to that fpirit of infidelity, which fo remark- 
 ably prevails at prefent ; they who are confident 
 that they underftand religion thoroughly, and 
 profefs it in its utmoft purity ; muft condemn this 
 humour of examining all parts of it, as abfo- 
 lutely bad, and of pernicious confequence: they 
 who are not fo fanguine, will conclude that there 
 are very good ends to be ferved by it ; whatever 
 be the fate, or the intent, of fuch, (and fuch it 
 muft be owned there are) as moft injurioufly op- 
 
 pofe 
 
 cllflied men who live in it; if there fhould not, more barbarity and 
 vice and wickednefs would cover every nation of the world, than it 
 yet fufFers under. If the wife and honeft and virtuoufly difpofcd 
 men quit the field, and leave the world to the pillage, and the man*- 
 ners of it to the reformation, of perfons dedicated to rapine, luxury, 
 and Injuftlce; how favage mufl it grow in half an age ? Nor will 
 the beft of princes be able to govern and preferve their fubjefts, if the 
 bed men be without ambition and defire to be employed and trufled 
 by them* Ld. Clarencion, EfT. Mor. & Div. p. 96. Vol. 
 
2 
 
 42 72v Progrcfs of 
 
 pofe religion: thefe believe that there is the fame 
 neceffity for fuftering this heretical turn in gene- 
 ral, as for any particular herefies^ and that thereby 
 ah-eady truths of great importance are made ma- 
 ivfejl, and grievous errors detefted %. They fee 
 and lament the confequences of long neglefting 
 to review eftablifliments ; and fuffering the pub- 
 lick wifdcm of paft ages to ferve here, and here 
 only, for all following ones (e). They think 
 
 there 
 
 t * since Chrlilianuy began to be depraved by adventitious mix- 
 tures, there never was an a^e in which there has appeared fo gene- 
 rally as in the prefent, a difpofition to embrace whatever fair en- 
 quiry difcovered to be the real doarine of Scripture without any 
 rec^ard to the authority of men, or to the eftablilhed diftinaions ot 
 fe?b: and no where has this liberal fpirit prevailed fo much as in 
 thofe countries in which intidelity has been fufFercd, for the longeft 
 fpace of time, to propofe all its objedicns freely, and without the 
 fear of perfecution or legal penalties. But the cffea of its oppofi- 
 tion has hitherto taken place only in part. The heart of a good 
 man triumphs in conceiving the period when it (hall have fully taken 
 place: in anticipating the time when Chrillianity Ihall become in the 
 writings and in the apprehenfions of Chrillians, as it truly is in tns 
 New Teftamcnt, not a fyftem of nice fpeculations and contentious 
 fabtilties, but a feries of plain principles, evidently founded m 
 fcripture, unmixed with, the arbitrary explications and precarious 
 conclufions of f^dlible men, all naturally touching the Heart, cora- 
 roandinc congruous afFeaions, and by their joint force, direaiy in- 
 culcating piety and virtue,, and promoting the reformation and 
 happinefs of mankind.' GVWs DiiTertations on the Genius and 
 EviScnces of Chrillianity, Difi'. II. fea. 3. p. 4/7. ^^^^P- ^'"'-' » 
 Four Differtations, p.137. t- 3<^5»-&c. and /^m//^:>' on Government,. 
 
 P^' iii- .^ . , lit 1 
 
 (0 * There is not a greater folecifm in the world th.Tn the corn- 
 
 mon one of continuing cuHoms after the reaibns for them arc ceafed.* 
 
 Kn72', EfTay on the £;/^. Conilitution. * But there are few Chnftian 
 
 princes who lay this to heart, and [moll] divines have quite othei 
 
 ihinos in their thoughts : their great bufineis u to maintain what 15 
 
 eiUbllfhed, and to difpute with thofe wao find fiiuit witn^it On 
 
 the other hand, knowledge or refolution is wnniing; ana there 1. 
 
 tlior ot" the hlilory of the Reformation in hKpan:i iias uoik, lu wi^ 
 preface to hit> fecond yolume. It is thought by many penons thai 
 all would be r y ineti if the liaft alteration war^ iu:-de. Sonie ct tUc.u' 
 
 ) 
 
 I 
 
 \, 
 
 Natural Religioji and Science* 243 
 
 there has been fo much wocdy hay,, JIuhble, built 
 on the foundation, as muft take a confiderable 
 time to be removed y efpecially when they fee fome 
 got no farther yet, than to doubt whether there 
 be occafion to have any thing at all removed; or 
 even to deny that there is reafon, either for at- 
 tempting, 
 
 defeas — are now become inviolable cufloms and laws. Every body 
 fancies true and pure Chrijiianity to be that which obtains in his 
 country, or in the fociety he lives in ; and it is not fo much as put 
 to the queftion, whether or not fome things fhould be altered. As 
 long as Chrijlians are poffefFed with thefe prejudices, we muft not 
 expea to fee Chrillianity reftored to an entire purity.' Caufesofthe 
 prefent Corruption of Chrifians, Part ii. p. 271. How applicable 
 thefe refleaions are to the prefent age, and this nation in particular, 
 may be feen by the reception^ which every fair propofal for any far- 
 ther reformation meets with. See Free andCandid Dfquifitions^ printed 
 for A. Miliary 1749. with the Appeals diVid. Supplements: and the 
 fpecimcn of an Vni^jerfal Liturgy ^ printed A.D. 1761, To which 
 add an excellent Dedication by the late author of the Effay on Spirit^ 
 and Hartley^ Vol. II. Prop. Ixxxii. p. 270, &c. and Jortin, paffim, 
 After all, to find faults and to amend them requires \try different 
 talents; previoufly to any material alterations in the liturgy and 
 offices of our church, there feems wanting a new verfion of the whole 
 Bible [towards which very large colledions are now ready to be 
 offered, when any perfon fufficiently qualified is willing to undertake 
 that taik] and fince the very difpofition of examining the original 
 text of one half of it, is but juft reviving here: — that happy time 
 feems to be at fomediflance from us. Sqq Kennicoi^s DiiTertations. I 
 Ihall conclude with the obfervation of an impartial writer oft«n re- 
 ferred to, who has been as free as moil authors in laying open the 
 defeas of ecclefiailical conftitutions, and as zealous for their im- 
 provement, 
 
 Eq^iidem nemo negabit multa reformatione indigere noflras Ec- 
 clefias, ct confultius utiquefore ii infimplicitate primitivae Ecclefias 
 fubfiHeremus, abjeais omnibus fchematibus politicis, ecclefias ma- 
 gnopere depravantibus. Verum de eo nunc quidem videndum, an 
 ilatus prefens noftrarum ecclefiarum talem reformationein patiatur, 
 et an emendatio fpcrata inde expeaari poflit ? non fuflicit asgrotanti 
 propofuiffe (latum integritatis valetudinis, et eidem regulas fano 
 corpori convenientillimas commendafle, nifi etiam expertum et 
 compertum habeas, ejufmodi vivendi rationem ad segrotantis habi- 
 tudinem fatis aptam cfTe. In hoc certe peccant non pauci, quod 
 ubi nsevos in Ecclefiis deprehendunt, 2?que facile efle credant illos 
 abolere, emendare et delere, quam indicare ; in quo tamen profi- 
 tentur fc naturae humanoe, imo fui ipfius, cognitione deilitui. Roth' 
 mer, Jus Eccl. Protellant. Uf. Modern, p. 22. 
 
 CL2 
 
244 ^^^' Progrefs of 
 
 tempting, or fo much as wifliing, farther refor- 
 mation. They obferve light, and hberty, at the 
 fame time advancing with an equal pace, and af- 
 fording their mutual help, as they do generally f ^ 
 to feparate thefe from the goldy fihcr^ precious 
 jlo7i€Sy many having taken thej^;/ in hand, and 
 refolved thoroughly to purge the floor; though 
 fome may be apt to throw away part of the good 
 feed, together with the chaff-, which alfo generally 
 has been the cafe, and is a very natural one. 
 
 Secondly : As to the prefent morals^ it may per- 
 haps be a queftion, whether they grow worfe up- 
 on the whole ; v/hen it is confidered, that the 
 lefs vices, as well as uneafmefles, of paft times 
 are foon forgot j and only the moft flagrant, no- 
 torious ones appear upon record % v — that w^e are 
 apt to judge thofe evils greateft, which we feel 
 ourfelves; and that good leafl;, which feems ta 
 rival and eclipfe our ownj and raifes envy, in the 
 room of admiration : — that hence, one of them 
 is often aggravated, the other extenuated moft 
 unduly (^). On which account, vices may not 
 
 pro- 
 
 t See IVindivh Defcription of the benefits of Uherts civil and re- 
 ligious. Hirt. of Knowl. Vol. 11. c. 21. fed. 3. or Gerard's Differ- 
 lations, Dilf. II. fed. 3. p. 4iS> ^^' 
 
 X Hiflory has kept no account of times of peace dnd tranquillity ; 
 it relates only ravages and difallers. Voltaire Mod. Hill.- Vol. iX. 
 c 211. Comp. Crjgud, Part ii. B. i. p. 3. 
 
 (^) See Bp. Fhetnvood*^ 2d Charge, p. 6, &c. Ibbot's Scrm. on 
 Eccl. vii. 10. l.£ C/rt", ib. Brc-i',/i\ Caufes of Vulgar Errors, B. i. c. 
 6, Sec. That the fame principle, /. e. of envy, is at all times no lefs 
 apt to prevail in the decrying of the prefent llate oi literature^ may 
 be (tt^n in an ingenious author's note on Hor, A. P. 1. 408. p. 213. 
 2d VA. This kind of reafoning is well fupported in a Ne^wEJlimau 
 tti Manner i -dXidi Princifuit 1 760. 
 
 1) 
 
 Natural Religim and Science. 245 
 
 probably be greater now in general^ but we more 
 immediately concerned with them, and fufFering 
 under them ; efpecially the reigning ones,^ (of 
 which there always have been fome 3) f as thofc 
 of faftion and corruption, luxury and lewdnefs 
 feem to be at prefent; and great ones indeed 
 they are, efpecially in our own country; which 
 yet perhaps are not worfe, than the reigning ones 
 of former times (r) : and it is to be remembered, 
 that they com.e attended with the forementioned 
 advantages of light and liberty, in fuch a degree, 
 as we can never be too thankful for; and which, 
 w^e hope will fpeedily correft them ; the one en- 
 abling men to fee their evil confequences ; the 
 other allowing them full fcope to cenfure, and 
 expofe them ; and through both thefe, it may 
 be, that each other vice becomes more open, and 
 apparent now ; rather than of fuperior fize, and 
 ftrength. So that concerning the prefent times, 
 
 we 
 
 f * There is a certain lift of vices committed in all ages, and de- 
 claimed againft by all authors, which will lail as long as human 
 nature; or digefted into common places may ferve for any theme, 
 and never be out of date till doonis-day.' Vulg. Err. p. 22. 
 
 (»}) * They who will take the pains to look into the records of 
 former times, and view the religion and policy of our own and 01 r 
 neighbour nations, from the time that Chriftianity was lirft planted 
 in them; (and, God knows, the profped that we have in moil of 
 them before that blefTcd feafon, is very dark and unpleafant ;) will 
 be bert able to judge and prefcribe what veneration is in truth due 
 to antiquity: and it may be, he who taketh the beft furvey of them, 
 will hardly find a time in which he would wifli rather to have been 
 born, or perfons with whom he could more ufefully and happily 
 have converfed, than in this very time in which he hath been born, 
 how vicious and wicked foever; or thofe worthy perfons with whom 
 he hath, or might have lived, how depraved foever the greater num- 
 ber is; as it hath always been.' Ld. Clarendon, EfF. p. 227. Whr.t 
 pmes there were formerly, about the 1 2th century in particular, mr.y 
 be feen in h<i. Littleton's Hill, of H. II. 
 
 Q.3 
 
246 1'he Prcgrcfs of 
 
 we have fome room to think, that they are npt 
 abfolutely worfe than all before them, as to mo- 
 
 raIs{Q). 
 
 Perhaps I may be allowed to advance a ftep 
 farther, and fuppofe them better in fome refpeftss 
 that we have certain virtues now in greater per- 
 feftion y particularly more of true charity, or W2i- 
 'vcrfal benevolence, than ever, fmce the time of 
 
 pri- 
 
 (S) A very juil account of the morals of the firft ages of the world, 
 jnay be feen in Gcguet on the origin of Arts, ^-c. Part i. B. vi. c. 4. 
 I believe it would be hard to produce modern inftances of cruelty 
 and barbarity in any civilized Hate, whether in war or peace, equal 
 to fuch as were decreed publickly, and executed without the lead 
 feeming remorfe, even by the politcft people of antiquity : witnefs 
 their facking towns, refufing quarter, and flaying at lead all the 
 males; their triumphs, torturing and killing fiaves ; their profcnp- 
 tions, poifcnings, expollng and murdering children ; [V. Fhidlafs 
 
 Anfw. tp P'ohnire, App. p. 531- 534- **J ^^V^^' ^"^f ^V' i^'^-* "''^^^^ 
 jieed no aggravation. Not to mention that lavage, defolaiing way 
 vi making war, which conllitutes the body of their hiilory; that 
 horrid treachery, and bare-faced iniquity, which appear on many 
 occafions; that notorious breach of national faith, and open viola- 
 tion of decency prevailing in thtir councils, and avmved by cxprels 
 declarations, whenever the particular intcrcft of their country leem- 
 cd to be promoted bv it. Examples of this occur frequently among 
 the Gneks, as well ^s Romavs, in the very p^rcU aii^d politell ages of 
 their government. See Hakc-ivill, L. iv. palum, or Jonjhu de Naturae 
 conftantia, Pund. iii— ix. Sir T. F, Bhiwt, Elf. p. 145. /W, Po- 
 lit. Dif X. Spirit of Nations, B. iii. c. 21. and Fcrgujon, Hill of 
 piv. Soc. Pt. 4. § .>. Mr. narriugicn having recited feveral old (la- 
 tuies made againll certain pradiccs very common in ihofe days, adds, 
 • Thefe are 'injuries ncn ir.ftri generis^ mc fcculi : nct\vithllanding the 
 general inclination to decry every thing modern, I cannot but ima- 
 gine that the inhabitants of this country are in the eijrhteenth cen- 
 tury infinitely more virtuous than they were in the thirteenth ; and 
 that the improvements of the mind and regard f.)r focial duties have 
 gone hand in hand with the increafe of learning and commerce: nor 
 >iave I any doubt but that, if any thing like a regular government 
 continues in this ifland, fuccecding ages will not only be more re- 
 fined and poliflied, but confiil of fliil more deferving members of 
 fociety. 1 would a(k thofe who think othcrwife of the comparifon 
 betvve"'ea ancient and modern times, whether they fuppofe, that in 
 the thirteenth century, any one would have thought of fending 
 ioo,cco/. to the inhabitants oi Lijbon after an earthquake, or would 
 have fubfc ibed to cloath the French prifoners?' Obfervations oa 
 the mod ancient Satutes, p. 137. 3d Ed. 
 
 / 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 247 
 
 primitive Chrijlianity (O-— But if this be deemed 
 a miftake, and too partial fondnefs for the pre- 
 fent times; I trull, it will be alfo judged a par- 
 donable one, amid fo much moft evident par- 
 tiaUty againft them ^ efpeclally, as it is on the 
 charitable fide; and tends to make them really 
 better than they would be, did worfe opinions of 
 them univerfally prevail. 
 
 Which brings me, in the laft place, to the con^ 
 fequences that attend the other way of thinking. 
 
 Thefe have been hinted at in the beginning of 
 this Difcourfe; and might be fhewn more parti- 
 
 cularly 
 
 (0 I may add, that there feems to be a more per fed refignation 
 to the will of God, and acquiefcence in his providence, among all 
 janksof men; a greater firmnefsin enduring pain; more chearful- 
 nefs and courage in fubmitting to death, among the generality, even 
 of lowed education : in Ihort, that mankind may be faid to grow 
 more fpiritual and intelledual, in thefe and many other refpeds, than 
 they have been in former ages : which may in a great meafure be 
 owing to the many excellent /r^^/V«/ pieces, and trafts of Devotion^ 
 which now abound everywhere; and which muft be allowed to be 
 much more rational and judklous, than thofe of former times. * I 
 think it may be faid, in honour of the prefent age, that [with a few 
 exceptions] controverfy rs carried on with more decency and good 
 manners, than in any former period of time that can be named; 
 which, together with the toleration granted by law, in this and other 
 proteftant countries, for all perfons to worlhip God in their own 
 way; and that Chriftian charity and moderation, which is generally 
 fhewn towards thofe that differ from us 4 feems already to be attend- 
 ed with good effeft. — The fetting up of fo many charity-fchocls, as 
 have of late years been erefted in thefe kingdoms; — the forming of 
 religious focieties, and other good means, have greatly contributed^ to 
 the promoting the knowledge and pradlice of virtue and religion 
 among us.* Worthington, Eff. p. 157, 158. 
 
 Upon the whole, we have reafon to conclude, that the rejioration 
 of letter Sy was fo far from h^\Vi% fatal to Chrijlianity, ox that this has 
 been in decay ever f nee, (as a late noble writer, much more converf- 
 ant with foine kinds of politicks and polite literature than the pre- 
 fent fubje<5l, has been pleafed to affirm) {Letters on the Study ofHiJlo- 
 ryy p. 175.] that on the contrary, this, where-ever it took place, has 
 greatly tended both to the ill nitration of its evidence, and the increafe 
 of its power, over the minds and confciences of men ; and that, in 
 many refpe6ls, it has really flouriihed more from this, than from 
 any other period of time fince its original ellablifhment. 
 
 <^4 
 
248 Tf^e Progrefs of 
 
 cularly to afFecl the honour of God, our own 
 happinefs, and that of others ; in as much as the 
 foregoing fuppofition cads a cloud over all the 
 works of God; — confounds our notions of his 
 wifdom, power, and goodnefs ; — raifes diftruft, 
 if not a dilbellef of his perfections, and thereby 
 deadens our devotion toward him; — damps and 
 difcourages all ftudy ; and deftroys the pleafure 
 that would arife from the furvey of both the m- 
 tural and fnoral wprld, and from rcfleftions on 
 the ftation we hold in them ; — renders us far lefs 
 fenftble of the happinefs within our power; and 
 by confequence, makes us receive lefs from 
 them ; — not only hinders men from growing 
 better, but actually makes them worfe; and fuf- 
 fers the world daily to decline, through a per- 
 fuafion that it is defigned to do fo ; — it having 
 been obferved, that thofe writings which vilhiinize 
 mankind, have a pernicious tendency tov/ards 
 propagating, and protecting villainy ; and help the 
 mod of all to teach and encourage it (;c) ; in the 
 
 fame 
 
 (k) In proof of the foregoing obfervation, not to mention here fuch 
 foreign autiiors as Efprit^^RochefoucauU, and Bnyk, who feem to have 
 taken a deal of pervcrfe pains to eradicate all feeds of humanity out 
 of the human breaft ; — fufHcient evidence may be had from a famous 
 writer of our own, the author of the Fable of the B.c^ ; who by a fhew 
 of fuperior penetration into the low motives and ignoble paiTions, 
 which are too apt to fway people; —by pointing at the means 
 whereby a politician may fometimes n^vml himfclf of thefe, as well 
 as ferve fomc prefcnt intcrefl of the puhlick in indulging them ; — 
 by a droU way of defcribing things, and a due mixture of fome very 
 ill-natured triiths, that looks like more than ordinary fagacity, and 
 . a (brewd knowledge of the world ; and fcrves to gratify a man's own 
 vanitv, or fp K'cp, while it appears to be expofing that of others; — 
 in fine, by dwelling altogether on the foibles and follies of the worll 
 and weakeft of mankind: — draws fuch an horrid, and at the fame 
 time humourous pidure of the fpecics, as has at once diverted, and 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 249 
 
 fame manner as thofe which perpetually dwell on 
 the dark fide of things, and the difficulties that 
 
 attend 
 
 debauched the principles of more perfonsof the bell underflandlngs 
 amongft us, than perhaps any other writer of late years. 
 
 And though we allow the obfervation of an abler author of the 
 fime ftamp, ^i'x.. that principles have feldom fuch an immediate in- 
 fluence on men's behaviour, or their tempers, as a predominant Z^- 
 ficHy or a fettled habit ; yet we may infill upon it, that the former of 
 thefe, when perverted, help very much to llrengthen and encourage 
 any kind of irregularity in the latter : at leall they are exceedingly 
 apt to difcourage and debilitate any attempt to fubdue an exorbi- 
 tant paii'.cn, or inveterate habit; they deftroy all vigorous endea- 
 vours toward eftabliihing right methods of felf-government; they 
 indifpofe us for attending to that moral difcipline, which is fo ne- 
 ccilary to condu6l ourfelves with innocence and ufefulnofs through 
 life; and yet fo difficult when oppofed to the ilrcam of evil cullom, 
 or the tide of vicious inclination. Such principles clpeciaily, as 
 are advanced in the forementioned book, inllead of exciting us to 
 love, partake of, and llrive to promote the happinefs of our fellow- 
 creatures, and to delight in paying a grateful homage to our com- 
 mon Parent ; mufi rather bring us to a fixed contempt and hatred of 
 the generality ; give us unworthy, narrow notions of the Creator 
 and Governor of tills world, and cut off the leaft proipc6l of enlarg- 
 ing- or improving them in any other. They mutt caufe a decay of 
 publick fpirit, and a v, ant of publick faith ; a decline and a gradual 
 diflblutlon of private honour, truth, and common honelly : the very 
 lead that can be expeded from them is an indolent, unfatisfying 
 itate of mind within one's felf ; and an averfion towards any pains 
 or trouble in the gratifying, ferving, or fupporting others. And 
 though fuch a deep difcovery of the fpj-ings of aftion may feem bell 
 to fliew us, how men are mod eafily led; yet, were it all true, it 
 would fhew at the fame time, that fuch creatures are fcarcely worth 
 the leading; fince it palls all the pieafurc of converfing with them; 
 ftrikes at the very root of univerfal benevolence, which alone can 
 fupply that pleafure; blafts every publickly focial difpofidon, and 
 all the charities of private life : in fhort, deftroys all that is great and 
 good, or amiable in them; or which can make any fuperior ftatioa 
 eligible amongft them. 
 
 But farther, if there be a real fyftem of things pre-eftablifhed upon 
 different principles, — then muft fuch fchemes of government prove 
 full as ufelefs, as uncomfortable; being wholly founded on a falfe 
 bottom, and at every turn oppofmg what they never can overthrow ; 
 fince he who framed this fyftem, Vv'ill afTuredly take care to fupport 
 it in his own way, whether v/e will or no : and if the original plan 
 on which it was formed, and the laws calculated to diredl it, be 
 thought of themfelves infufHcient to that end; there is ftill ground 
 [from nature and reafon, fetting afide pofitive declarations] to be- 
 lieve, that he would rather interpofe fometimes to fecure the cfta- 
 
 bliihmeat 
 
250 T^he Progrcfs of 
 
 attend our fearch after the ways of God, ferve 
 only to darken the view ftill more, and multi^ 
 
 ply 
 
 blifhment thereof, than fuffer it to be quite ruined and reverfed. 
 The Governor of which fyftem therefore, ought to be attended to 
 as fuch, in all good policy ; and our political lyftcm framed in fome 
 kind of conformity to that great model ; by a careful contemplation 
 of the chief end and prepoUent quality in each part of his works ; 
 by a ftudious furvey of all the dignity, and harmony, and happinefs, 
 confpicuous in the general conduft of them. But in fuch fchemes 
 as we are now examining, the fupreme Governor of the world is ei- 
 ther quite omitted, or introduced in fo degrading a manner; as 
 makes him even dependent on, and obliged to, an evil principle for 
 moll part of the beauty and chief benetit of his work : it gives fo 
 bafe an idea, both of this fyrtem and its Author, as muft fliock any 
 one who is willing to entertain the leall degree of reverence, or re- 
 gard for either; or has any jull concern even for himfelf, as being 
 unavoidably linked in fo near a relation to, and clofe connexion 
 with thefc ; from whence he is like to receive fo little either of true 
 honour or advantage. 
 
 How much more beautiful and jull a theory might, with lefs la» 
 bour, be crc(fled on found morals, and a fenfe of religion ! which 
 would make all true, rational pleafurc, coincide; and render the 
 prefent flate of things, not only uniform and abfolutely defireable in 
 itfelf ; but alfo tlie dired road, the natural paflport to a better : 
 which, befide a deal of pure good in prefent poflelTion, mull hU 
 and extend the foul with cvcrlalling hope of infinitely greater. 
 Where every virtue would, in every one, efientially promote and 
 perfcft thofe of other?; and each, with iniinite confillency, confpire 
 to exert the natural e{ie(5ls of all, in univcrfal happinefs; without 
 that motley mixture of the contrary qualities, which can at bell 
 but indire^ly, and accidentally, anil by their being extraneoufly 
 over-ruled, produce any iliare thereuf For after ail, when once 
 we come to underlland ourfelves, we (liall find that vice in general 
 does, in its own nature, and in every degree of it, tend to produce 
 mifery, or prevent happinefs, either mediately or immediately, in 
 every fyftem, [from whence indeed it has its name, and on account 
 of which only it ought to be, and has ever been, prohibited by di- 
 vine and human laws ;] though this its tendency may probably be 
 over-ruled in many particular cafes; or it may be fufpended, or 
 faperfcdcd by the introdudlion of oppofitc qualities ; which, through 
 the unavoi.lable imperfcOion of langua;;e, are often miftaken for it; 
 or it may be in fuch a mann:*r really blended and confounded with 
 thefe, as to be hardly diiiinguifhable fr'in them; or in fuch a degree 
 countcrpoifed and balanced by fome jarring prirciplei,or inconfillent 
 fpecics of its own, that its elTc^^ls are not fo plain and obvious; ef- 
 pecially in large focietics, and complex bodies; where more tha^ 
 ordinary fkill is requifite, to compute the confequences of each par- 
 ticular ad or habit; and affign each inilucnce tQ its proper caufe. 
 
 But 
 
 (*- 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 251 
 
 ply thofe very difficulties. How much better, 
 both the end and the effect of thofe, which 
 
 place 
 
 But this grows more apparent in fmall families, and private confli- 
 tutions ; where ^'ice, of every fort and fize, is feen to create pro- 
 portionable corruption, and diforder in the body politick, as furely 
 as 'venoTHj or a poifon properly fo called, does in the natural one : 
 though in fome critical circumftances, fuch a violent ftruggle and 
 convulfion, may be raifed thereby in both of them, as may occafion 
 very extraordinary eiFeds ; and two bad qualities in contefl with 
 each other, inftead of ruining, may poffibly relieve an opprelfed 
 conilitution ; as fometimes bina njenena juvant . Yet Hill, notwith-, 
 ilanding fome fuch vtx'j unufual phzenomena, the dillindt properties 
 and regular produ6lion of natural bodies, as well as thofe of moral 
 qualities, are both of them fixed ; and fairly difcoverable in the 
 main ; we are tolerably well apprifed, what naturally conduces to the 
 prefervation and profperity of each ; and on the whole, may reft well 
 fatisfied, that if the latter were compofed of fuch a number of rank 
 heterogeneous principles as this fame author is inclined to fuppofe, 
 they would not long fubfift as we now find them ; nor could the 
 world poffibly go on fo well as it has done, and does. So far is that 
 pofition therefore from being juft, which this fame author has put 
 into the very title of his book, i;/x. that 'vice, properly fo called, 
 whether private or public, is a real hetiejit ; that the reverfc is ftrid- 
 ly true in general ; which might be proved a< clearly by an induftion. 
 of particulars, as Sir W. Temple has made out the thing in one ftrong 
 cafe, which was unhappily this author's leading inftance ; ^jiz. that oi 
 luxury, or excefs, being of advantage to a beneficial trade See Temple's 
 Obfe'rvations on the Netherlands, p. 66. fol. [Comp. Hutche/on's Re- 
 mark, No. ii.] But granting all the faas to be juft as this author 
 Hates them ; were the bulk of mankind altogether as vile and vici- 
 ous as he reprefcnts them ; yet would it be of no real fervice to lay 
 open fuch a fink of pollution, and thereby only fpread the infedi- 
 on farther ftill, and fafter ; it cannot be of fo much ufe to exhibit 
 men entirely as they are, even in their very worft light ; as it muft be, 
 to place them where they oft really have been, and where they al- 
 ways might and ought to be. Nor can fuch views of the world 
 prove any entertainment to one, that is either defirous of concur- 
 ring in any thing for the improvement cf it; or of contributing at 
 all to the eafe and agreeablenefs of his own fituation in it. 
 
 But I propofed to make only fome general obfervations on the 
 genius and main drift of this celebrated book, as a fpecirncn of 
 fuch fort of writings ; the particulars of it having been fufficiently 
 confuted long ago ; and Ihall conclude with obferving, that the ce- 
 lebrated author of the Chara^erijlicks, and this writer, who fo con- 
 jftantly oppofes him, are evidently in two extremes ; the firft con«. 
 tending for a benevolence quite pure in kind, and perfe6lly difin- 
 terefted, and without any other end than, its own exercife ; which is 
 ^either reconcileable to fa6l, nor to the frame of fuch beings as we 
 ' • arc 
 
252 • The Progrefs of 
 
 place human nature In Its faireft light ; and re- 
 prefent the lovely form as worthy of its Author ; 
 as well as of thofe that difplay the beauty and 
 beneficence of the divine oeconomy 3 and produce 
 an afTurance of that paternal care, and conduft of 
 us here, which brings the trueft enjoyment, and 
 moft grateful acknowledgement of prefent bene- 
 fits ; and likewife begets a joyful hope, and ftedfaft 
 €xpe6lation of more fubftantial ones hereafter ! 
 
 The confequences of the foregoing doflrine 
 might be urged farther, in regard both to the 
 atheifi and dcijl -, to convince the one, that all 
 things have not gone at random ; but that there 
 are plain tokens of a plan, and government ; and, 
 from what has already pafi, reafon to think, that 
 more of it will ever appear, and in a ftill more 
 perfecl manner : to fliew the other, that as the 
 feveral difpcnfations of, what we call, revealed 
 Religion, have hitherto been in the main conform- 
 able 
 
 are at prefent ; the latter centering all \^ y2^ immediately, and con- 
 itituting Its chiet good in fome of the very loweft gratifications • 
 M'hich IS alike nrroandlefs; but attended with worfe confequences* 
 between thefe there is manifeUly a middle way, whcrehy the moral 
 fcnfe, and that oi honour, ^-c. may be formed by way o{ habit, xqzWw 
 dilhna from, and llriking previouily to any private views ; and jre. 
 nerally with Greater force too, than could be produced by the moft vi- 
 gorous and intcnfe refleaion (which is ever uf great ufe, and oftea 
 necefiary in matters of the laft importance ;) yet this may be fo far 
 qualified by a mixture of the other paflions ; and fo well directed to 
 the bell and nobleft ends by reafon ; as to keep clear of all the ab- 
 iurdities of the tormer fyflem, which runs fo naturally into rank en^ 
 thvCtafm^ and likewife to avoid the ill confequences that attend the 
 latter, which is lo apt to fink us into ilie very dregs of vice and i/;7- 
 lainy\ This has been juil propofed above [Part i. note a. p. lo, 
 &c.) and J find no fufKcient ground to doubt of ito being in itfelVthe 
 jiioft conformable to the true nature of mankind in eeneral, and bell 
 adapted to promote the higheft degree of happinefs in fociai life, 
 A more particular examination of both the fy Hems abovememioned, 
 inay be leen in Broivn'^z Kf%s oii the Cbara.1eriJ}ic/;s. 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 253 
 
 able to thofe of Providence, in both the natural 
 and moral world, this poffibly may come from 
 the fame author ; and receive yet farther increafe, 
 which thefe alfo do, as they are daily better un- 
 derftood. 
 
 But if this be not the cafe in any degree here, 
 we feem to have nothing left whereon to ground 
 an analogical argument (which yet is our beft, 
 natural argument) for an hereafter; no vifible 
 footfteps of wifdom and goodnefs, to conduft us 
 in our fearch after a firil caufe ; no fettled foun- 
 dation for our hopes of futurity, the bafis of all 
 natural religion : all is chaos and confufion thus 
 far, and therefore may be fo, for ought we know, 
 eternally ; either without any good, confident 
 fcheme at all ; or that, as foon as fixed, unfixed 
 again, and difappointed : — in fhort, the divine 
 government, if there be one, muft on this fcheme 
 be inferior to moft human adminiftrations (x). 
 
 Thus 
 
 (^) This Scheme, how extraordinary foever it may apper, has met 
 with an ingenious advocate, in a Difcourfe entitled, The influence of 
 the impro'vcments of life on the moral principle confidered, defigning to 
 Ihew, that in proportion to the increafe of the former, there is a con^ 
 Jlant decreafe in the latter. This Author was obliged by his own 
 hypothefis, to allow the main point, viz. that the practice op 
 VIRTUE is not under any fuch decline, but rather in fadl better fecur- 
 edj as men become more civilized, p. 7. as the i^ipro'vements of life hai>e 
 fo far enlightened the minds of men, that they readily difcern the connexion 
 litiveen certain moral duties y and their ouc?: pri'vate inter eft ; ib. and yet 
 he aflerts, that by the very fame means the state of morality 
 in the ivorld degenerates daily, p. 6, His reafon is, becaufe the dire£h 
 tendency ofeiiery improvement cflife is, to bri fig about the praSlice ofmo^ 
 rality nvithout the principle, p. 7. We have indeed hitherto been taught 
 to knoHM a tree by its fruits, and deemed it the fureft way to judge of 
 any m^vCs principles, from theconftant courfe of his/r^^i??/V^; but by 
 this new fyftem we are to undedrand, thai thefe have very fmall con- 
 nexion with each other ; and that there are fome other conneiflions, 
 which will bring about the fame thing more elfed:ually. Now fince 
 the fubjeft of morality has been reduced to a fcience, and as fuch, 
 
 built 
 
254 ^'^^ Frogrefs of 
 
 Thus then we fee, how neceflary it is to form 
 ri^ht notions of the paft ftate of the world » 
 
 ef- 
 
 built on rational principles, the fenfe of all the terms relating to it 
 has been pretty well agreed upon, and it is generally underllood 
 to include thus much ; ne doing good to mankind in obedience io theivill 
 of God, and for the fake ofeverlajiing happinefs, [Trads on Morality 
 and Religion prefixed to King's Origin of E. 4th Ed.] or as it is elfe- 
 whcre defcribed {Orig, ofe^vily No. 52. p. 266. 4th Edit.) obedience 
 toGod is the principle, the good of mankind the matter, our own hap- 
 pinefs the endy of all that is properly termed moral 'virtue. This has 
 been (hewn to be the true theory of virtue ; and that, llriftly fpeak- 
 ing, nothing lefs than a regard to the divine will, and a confequential 
 view of happinefs, during the whole of our exiftence ; can be its 
 adequate principle and end, fo as to form an invariable connexion 
 between every part thereof, and our proper duty. Not that a diftincl, 
 aftual view either of this principle or end is always poffiblc, or re- 
 quifite even in the bell regulated minds here, to render fuch a courfe 
 of aftion, as is denominated virtuous, acceptable to, and reward- 
 able by the deity. Nor is it neceflary to exclude all profpea of in- 
 ferior advantages ; though the lefs general fuch a profped is, the 
 lefs virtue there will be in any particular adion, (as is obferved in 
 Prelim. Difl^. to King) provided any fuch particular benefit be not 
 the fole view in performing it, without which we ihould never have 
 engaged in fuch performance. As there are feverai good ends fet in 
 fubordinatlon to each other, it may, 'tis hoped, conndering human 
 frailty be fufficient if we take any one of them, and run it up to 
 the fupreme, ultimate end upon occafion ; (as is^ obferved in the 
 Trads before King^ ib.) if we get hold of any one link of the chain, 
 fo as to be able to draw after it a regular train of really beneficent 
 ti6ts ; nay, fometimes we are entitled to the fame privilege, if we 
 be led to it by nothing more than a mere habit, aflbciation, inftind, 
 or afFedion ; (as is made out in the fame place) or elfe we (hould be 
 forced to exclude from the charader of virtuous, not only the /Wi 
 cf mankind, but many of the mofl acute philofophers ; and it would 
 be hard to brand fuch a fteady, uniform courfe of adion, which is 
 fo right in the material p^ivt, with the name oi artifdul, (p. S.) or 
 Jhatn ^virtue. 
 
 Thefe feverai qualifications have been laid down in a plan of 
 morals, in order to render it not only rational in itfclf, but of fome 
 real ufc, and applicable to what occurs daily in common life. But 
 in truth, the ingenious author now before us feems to have nothing 
 of this kind in his thought:, when he efimates the flat e of morality in 
 the world ; contenting himfelf with carrying on a traffick among 
 its natural con-veniencc^, which he conceives may do the bufincfs ; 
 though how this v/ill ever reach fuch happinefs as may be termed 
 the ultimate end of morality, p. 8. or indeed any wo; a/ happinefs at 
 all, is not perhaps fo eafy to difcover. Will it be able to produce 
 the fame kind of felf-fatisfadion, as arifes from the confcioufnefs 
 
 of 
 
 K 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 255 
 
 efpecially in regard to that important point, re- 
 ligion 5 in order to judge how it will be for the 
 
 fu- 
 
 o? merit, and the confident cxpedation o( reivardP or any other fa- 
 tisfadion in any wife equal to it ? If this end could perfedly, or 
 even in a great meafure, he anf^ered, p. 8. by any fuch mean-, he 
 would do well to (hew us, how we may diftinguiih that from one of 
 the real fan ftiom of morality, ib. What thefe {^m^farMions are, he 
 has not indeed told us explicitly ; which would perhaps have been 
 a little inconvenient ; fince if he here intends thofe that relate to 
 the divine will, whether in this life or another ; it may be a farther 
 difficulty to (hew, how thefe can he found lefs conducive to pri-vj^te goody 
 p. 8. than the artificial ones ; as they moft certainly fecure it on the 
 whole, which the others do not. If he fpeaifs here only of fome 
 frtfent good, 'tis no great wonder if a remote profped of futurity do 
 not affed a man fo nearly, as the immediate confequence of things 
 about him : though that too, when rendered prcfent to the mind by 
 due refledion, often yields a portion of happinefs fupcrior to any 
 fenfual objed whatfoever : and to do this, feems a much eafier taik, 
 than the working out fuch a certain train of temporal conveniences, 
 as will be fufficient \.o fupply its place. 
 
 Again : The ultimate end of morality, fays he, is private happinefs^ 
 p. 8. And what is virtue, but the dired way to this end ? or the 
 great objed of virtue, but the obtaining of this by the moft efficaci- 
 ous and confiftent means ? How then can the bulk of mankind, or 
 any body elfe, be wrong in cultivating the mean, only fo far as they 
 think it produaive of the end? ib. except we revive the old Jloical prin- 
 ciple, of following virtue for its own fake, and without any other 
 end ; which principle has, it muft be confefTed, been moft effedu- 
 ally rooted up by modern improvements ; as they have taught us to 
 look fomewhat fartherinto the true nature and confequence of things, 
 than either to ad without any end at all, or to miftake means for 
 ends ; andefteem that foritfelf, v/hich was originally required of us, 
 becaufe it leads to fomething elfe ; and is ftill of no other ufe, or ex- 
 cellence, than as it does fo : a thing that is only Good in itfelf, or ab- 
 folutely fo, /. e, good to no end, being in reality good for nothing as 
 was obferved long ago by Socrates. Xen, Memorab. B 3. c. 8. We 
 cannot therefore dillinguifti between that which naturally leads to 
 the ultimatum of all private happinefs ; and real 'virtue; fince no- 
 thing is materially good on any other account, than as it properly 
 conduces to fuch end ; nothing bad 01 vicious, farther than it tends 
 to the contrary : and the producing of the firft among mankind en- 
 tirely, and uniformly, muft ever be true virtue ; call h either moral 
 or artificial; Co long 'as we have any meaning to the word : and the 
 pleafurc ordinarily attending fuch a difpofition in the perfon him- 
 fclf, and the prod udion of the fame in others, together with a re- 
 turn of like good offices from them ; or the additional and extraordi- 
 nary attainment of fome degree of happinefs, over and above all 
 thefe, upon the fame account; will be* one of them the natural, the 
 
 other 
 
256 "fhc Progrefs of 
 
 future ; and in what manner we are to condu(?l 
 ourfelves with relation to it. If it has hitherto 
 
 been 
 
 other fupernatural/^;7^/>;?J of it. Why the former of thefe Hiouki 
 not, in their proper place and order, be admitted as well as the lat- 
 ter, I know not. Nor whv it Ihould be deemed any degradation, or 
 iff^auracy in virtue, if, like religion, (which is built upon the very 
 f^me principle) it hQ profitah/e to all things; and better our condition 
 both in t/je life that tjoiv is, and in that to co?ne. We have no law a- 
 gaiuft attending to the lower of thefe ends ; nay, the conftitution of 
 our nature evidently demands it of us : the only fault is, if we ftop 
 there, as was obferved above ; and which perhaps is no more gene- 
 ral, than the aaing upon habit, or afFeftion, or without any dillinft 
 view at all ; which will oft be the cafe with many of us unavoidably. 
 Thedcfigned produdlion therefore of good, natural goodly may be 
 juftly faid to coniHtute moral good ; how much foever is to be de- 
 duftcd for the imperfedion of the motive : this will be the true, on- 
 ly r«/^ of moral adions ; and a conformity to it mod agreeable to the 
 n.mllofGod\ nay, the only fure way of difcovering what his will is, 
 fo far as that is confidcred as the foundation of morality. Men may 
 indeed, and too often do, promote the happinefs of others on what 
 is in the word fenfe ftyled a private, felfilh view ; and as often pro- 
 duce partial good by the introduftion of a more general, and ex- 
 tenfive evil ; which aftions thereby become either vicious, or at beft, 
 to the aeent himfelf, wholly indifferent : but to promote the true 
 happinefs of others in any degree, abfoktcly, as fuch and fo enjoin- 
 ed ; though with a view to our own good upon the whole ; other- 
 wife it would not be reafonable in us, but romantic; this will ever 
 be true virtue, grounded on a proper principle; and dircded to a 
 proper end : and farther than this, we really know nothing either of 
 its nature, principle, or end ; nor oi'ils fan^ ions, ^ But as this gen- 
 tleman never told us, what he underftands by his principle, (or as 
 he fometimci phrafes it, the principles, p. 7.] of virtue ; he is at ^li- 
 berty to explain the thing in his own way ; and when he does, 'tis 
 hoped, will let us fee how it becomes fo highly affefted by the im- 
 frovenients of life . At prcfcnt, I doubt, he not only confounds this 
 with ther;/^/, private happinefs ; but likewife confines tliat to tempo- 
 ral enjoyments only ; leaving a future fate quite out of the reckon- 
 ing ; and thus has either fet afide, or extremely narrowed his foun- 
 dation of happinefs in the will of God ; while he \^ fancy iu^ that 
 thefe may come in for a proper fubftitutc to the moral, or religious 
 principle, and produce all the cffed that was intended by it, or 
 might be expcded from it. But wlicn he comes to faa, perhaps 
 he will find thefe gratifications, much improved as they are, Hill ve- 
 ry infuflicient for that purpofe ; fo long as men obfervc, that thefe ve- 
 ry often fail them ; and fjmctimcs meet with much more of this 
 kind of happinefs in the oppofite road ; or if this were lefs frequent- 
 ly the cafe, and fome of our modern improvements had been carri- 
 ed on fo far, as to enp;:ige and enable men to conve>fe with each 
 
 Gthev 
 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 257 
 
 been really progrefTive, we find good reafon to 
 expeft the fame ftill farther. We have ftrong 
 motives to go into this fcheme ourfelves \ and clear 
 direftions how to proceed in it. Inftead of look- 
 ing back, and labouring to confine it to the mod- 
 el of pad times \ or even tie it down to its pre- 
 fentftate of improvement *; we learn rather, with 
 the great Apoflky to forget thofe things which are be- 
 hindy reaching forward unto thofe things which are be-' 
 forCy and prejjing toward the mark -f. 
 
 And, 
 
 ether upon Better and fafer terms than formerly, p. 7. yet I beg leave 
 to qucHion, whether luch artificial engrafFments can be made on a- 
 ny of them, as will produce fruits equally permanent, and of the 
 f^mc favour, and perfeftion, with thofe fair, native branches of mo- 
 rality, that grow from the good old genuine (lock of truth, finceri- 
 ty, and charity, or love unfeigned. If then, he perfifts in affirming, 
 that it is merely, for the fake of mutual fafety and convenience, that 
 the generality of men are willing now a-days to deal well by each 
 other ; which can be known only by feeing into their hearts : If this, 
 I fay, were the cafe, with more perfons than in all probability it is ; 
 yet as the attempt to perfuade men, that it is fo univerfally, muft tend 
 to diminifh that little good which is producible by thefe appearan- 
 ces ; I do not fee what great ufe there is in fuch fhrewd obfervations 
 on this fpurious birth of artificial virtue ; and fubmit it to the reader, 
 whether, after all, one might not as well fujir his judgement to be di^ 
 reeled by the benevolent and more exalted affeSlions, as be drawn in, 
 by a femblance of profound fagacity, to fuch an uncomfortable {y^ 
 ftem as this gentleman has fet before us ; though, I am fatisfied, 
 without any bad defign. 
 
 • « Were the beft formed ftate in the world to be iiyxdi in its pre- 
 fent condition, I make no doubt that in a courfe of time it would be 
 the worft. Hiflory demonftrates this truth with refpedtoall the ce- 
 lebrated dates of antiquity ; and as all things (and particularly what 
 ever depends upon fcience) have of late years oeen in a quicker pro- 
 grefs towards perfe«Stion than ever, we may fafely conclude the ume 
 with refpeft to any political ftate now in being.' PriefiUy on go- 
 vernment, p. 130. 
 
 f Phil iii, 13, &c. — 1 ihall here add the fentiments of an illu- 
 ftrious writer, and an excellent judge of the world ; who, had 1 met 
 with him fooner, would have faved me the trouble of faying any 
 thing upon the prefent fubjedl ; and whofe whole treatifc is fo curi- 
 ous, as to make the length of this, and fome other fpecimens cited 
 from it, very excufeable. • It is an extraordinary improvement that 
 
 ^ divine 
 
258 T'he prcgr^fs of 
 
 And, to ufe the fame Apoftles advice, Let us 
 therefore^ as many as defire to be pcrfeB, he thus 
 
 minded. 
 
 divine and human learning hath attained to, fince men have looked 
 upon the ancients as fallible writers, and not as upon thofe Ne plus 
 ultra that could not be exceeded. We retain, as I have faid before, 
 a juft reverence for them, as great lights, which appeared in very 
 dark times; and we read them rather to vindicate them from thofc 
 impofuions, which confident men frequently make them liable to, to 
 ferve their own corrupt ends ; than that we cannot attain to as much 
 clear knowledge by reading later writers, in Icfs time than turning 
 over their volumes will require : fo that we may modcflly enough 
 (which mere men think than fay) beiicve that ot the fathers, which 
 one of Tully^ orators faid of the Latin language, Ao;/ tarn praccUrum 
 eJlJcirCi — quam turpe eft nefcire \ it is more Ihame to fcholars not to 
 have read the fathers, than profitable to them to have read them. 
 y\nd I do in truth believe (wi h a very true refpcA to the writers of 
 the 3d, 4th, and 5th ages) that there have been many books written 
 and publifhed within thefe lail hundred years, in which much more 
 \i^ful learning is not only communicated to the world, than was 
 known to any of thofe ancients ; but in which the moll difficult and 
 important points which have been handled by the fathers are more 
 clearly ftated, and more folidly illuflrated, than in the original tren- 
 tifes and difcourfes of the ancients themfclves. — If then, in truth, all 
 Ivind of learning be in this age in which we live, at leall in our own 
 climate, and in fv^me of our neighbours, very much improved, be- 
 yond what it ever was ; and that many errors, and fomc of no fmall 
 importance, have been difcovered in the writings of the ancients ; 
 why Ihould we rcfort and appeal to antiquity for any other tcftimo- 
 ny, than for matter cj fa^\ and thereto without reflraining our own 
 enquiry, or rational conjeftures. — We do not flatter ourfelvcs, if we 
 do believe that we have, or may have, as much knowledge in reli- 
 gion as they had ; and we have much to anfvver, if we have not more: 
 and if our pradlife of the duties of religion be not as great and as 
 fmcere as theirs, (which we have too much reafon to lufped) our 
 advantage and knowledge will turn to our reproach and damage. 
 
 Let us then, in God*s name, appeal to and imitate the fimplicity, 
 humility, and charity of fome primitive Chriflians ; upon whom nei- 
 ther ambition, nor riches, nor love of life, could prevail to decline the 
 flrift path of virtue, or to fwerve in any dof»ree from the prcfcflion cf 
 the truth ; that truth, by which they were fure they might be favcd. 
 Let us learn of them to defpife thofe temp ta ions of the world, which 
 perplex, and diftraft, and obftrudl our jouiney to Heaven. Let us 
 imitate their courage andconflancy in adhering to v^hat is right, and 
 to what is juft, to which their examiples Ihould encourage us ; and 
 thofe primitive limes did yield us many fuch examples worthy of 
 o<3iX imitation : though I muft flill fay, it was not the purity of the 
 times, but the integrity of feme perfons : the times were at leafl as 
 2 wiched, 
 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 259 
 
 minded. As we have the beft means of effe6ling 
 this within our power; as we live under the 
 
 mild- 
 wicked, as any which have followed ; and none have followed fo 
 bad, la which there have not been fome perfons eminent for virtue 
 and piety ; who would mend the very times, if their examples had 
 been imitated : nor have we reafon to believe, that the very time in 
 which we live, is deftitute of fuch perfons ; but that it abounds as 
 plentifully in fuch, as any age that hath been before it ; though they 
 are never fo much as talked of whiUl they are alive ; and it may be, 
 there is not fo much care taken to preferve the memory of them 
 when they are dead, as there hath been heretofore. 
 
 It would be a good fpur to raife our induftry, if we did believe 
 that God doth exped a greater perfedlon from the prefent age in 
 learning, m virtue, in wifdom, and in piety, from the benefit and ob- 
 fervation which he hath afforded us in all the precedent ages : From 
 their defers, we have argument to be wary, and to reform ; and 
 from what they did well, we have their counfel and affiftance, and 
 may the more eafily improve what they did ; and we have all the 
 obligations upon us to mend the patterns we have received, and leave 
 them with more luftre to our pcflerity; who are bound to exceed us 
 again in knowledge, and all degrees of perfcftion : whereas a looking 
 back, and prefcribing rules to ourfelves from Antiquity, retards and 
 lelfens even our appetite to that which we might eafily attain • we 
 may as well refort to old men to teach us to run, and to throw the 
 bar : if our bodily ftrength grows and increafcs when theirs decavs, 
 the vigour of our mmd doth as much exceed theirs ; and fince we fet 
 out after they reft, we ought to travel farther than they have done, 
 when we carry all the land-marks with us. It is a caution near as old 
 as Chriftianity, Nihil magi s pr aft andum eft ^ quam ne pccorum ritu, fequa- 
 mur antecedenttum gregem ; pergentes non qua eundum eft, fed qua itur. It 
 Ms always been a difeafe in the world, too much to adore thofe who 
 have gone before, and like fheep to tread in their Heps, whether the 
 way they went were the beft, or not. Seneca thought, that nothing in- 
 volved men in more errors, quam quod ad rnmorem componimur ; nee ad 
 rationem/ed adjimilitudinem 'vi^vimus ; that we confidermore what other 
 men have thought or done, than whether they did think or do reafon. 
 ably. Nor is it out oimodefty that we have this refignation, that we do 
 in truth think thofe who have gone before us to be wifer than our- 
 felves ; we are as proud and as peevifli as any of our progenitors : but 
 It is out o£ lazine/s ; we will rather take their words, than take the 
 pains to examine the reafon they governed themfelves by. But there 
 " A^' j^^ prefent age will buoy itfelf up from this abyfs of fervi- 
 tude ; and by their avowed endeavours to know more than the former 
 have done, will teach the next to labour, that they may know more 
 than we do : which virtuous emulation ftiould continue and erow to 
 the end of the world. ^ 
 
 It may be, the common proverbial faying, that the 'world groivs 
 fvery day nvor/e and^or/e, prevails with many to beiicve that we have 
 
 I^ 2 a r . )od 
 
zSo 
 
 ^he Progrefs of 
 
 r 
 
 mildeft, moft indulgent of all governments ; and 
 enjoy the blefling of JiAerfy in that perfeflion, 
 which has been unknown to former ages, and 
 is fo ftill to mod other nations * j a blefling 
 
 (fufFer 
 
 a good title to be fo ; and that it is in vain to drive againft our fate : 
 nay, fomc men think, that there is prefcription enough in the 
 Scripture, as if there was fuch a general decay, that the laft age 
 ihall be worfe than any that have gone before : in which, I con- 
 ceive, men are very much miflakcn It is very true, that both 
 St. Pnul and St. Prfer have foretold, that in the laji days perilous times 
 Jhall fome \for men Jh all be lo'vers of their oivn /el^vesy covetous, boajlers^ 
 proud y blajphemousf &C. niithout natural affcdion, truce-breaker s, fal/e 
 accufers, incontinent , de/pi/crs of thoje <\vho are good, ScC, Yet they do 
 not tell us, that thefe men, which have made a great party in the 
 world in every age, (hall prevail and corrupt the reft; nay, they fay 
 the contrary. They Jhall proceed no farther y for their folly Jhall be mani- 
 ftjl to all men. So that we may hope and endeavour to accomplifli 
 this prophecy, that the graver and the modefter, the humble, the 
 pious and the chafte part, fhall be able to difcountcnance, to fup- 
 prefs, to convert, or to extirpate the other. We may as warrantably 
 take a meafure of thofc times from that declaration of St. Peter, in 
 the 2d of the Jds ; If Jhall come to pafs in the lajl days, I *w ill pour out 
 cfmy Spirit upon all flejh, and your Jons and your daughttrs jhall prophej'y, 
 and your young men pall fee njifions, and your old men Jhall aream dreams. 
 here is no decay attends this fulnefs of time; no refort to antiguity, 
 to chalk us out the way to knowledge and underftanding. We arc 
 not fure that thofe laft days, to which both thofe prophecies refer, 
 are not already paft; but we may be fure, that if we fpend that 
 time which God (hall vouchfafe to give us in this world, in that 
 manner as he expcdls we Ihould, and as he hath enabled us to 
 do if we will ; we lha\l leave as fair examples of wifdom, virtue, 
 and religion to thofe wlio (hall fucceed us, as any have been left to 
 us by thofe who have gone before us ; and our poftcrity purfuing 
 the (ame method, the laft xage will appear at the day of judgment 
 lefs undaunted than any that hath gone before it.* Ld. Clarendon of 
 the reverence due to antiquity. Eff. Mor. and Div. p. 238, &c. dated 
 Montprllier i6jo, Comp. Jon/on de Naturae Conftantia. Funft. x. 
 p. 156, &c. That there will be a more rapid progrefs toward per- 
 te«^ion in the latter ages of the world, and that the laft will exceed 
 all others, is made highlv probable by Dr. HWfhington, E/f. on Re- 
 demp. c. 13, 14. TJiere is fomething to the fame purpofe worth 
 taking notice of in the Exemplar, p. 387, &c. Comp. f^orthington 
 B. Left. V. 2. p. 224, &c. 
 
 * Remarkably ingenuous is the teftimony which a celebrated 
 foreigner, the author oi UEfprit des Loix, bears to the excellency of 
 our iiiil conftitution in this rcfpecl; which defervcs to be refle£led 
 
 on 
 
 i 
 
 ■ 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 261 
 
 (fufFer me once more to remind us of it) which 
 includes every thing vakable in life \ and above 
 all things, tends mod to accelerate the progrefs 
 abovementioned : let us, inftead of making it ei- 
 ther a covering for fedition * againft fuch a go- 
 vernment i or a caufe of gratifying our maliciovf^ 
 nefs againft each other ; be diligent in ufmg it to 
 the good purpofes for which it is fo liberally in- 
 dulged us ; and render ours as much fuperior to 
 thofe nations that are yet deprived of it, as moft 
 other countries are obferved to have been, in the 
 like circumftances. 
 
 Let us concur with this aufpigious courfe of 
 providence, and each contribute our endeavours 
 towards carrying on this progrefs, by every feri- 
 ous, fair, and free enquiry \free^ not only from 
 all outward violence and clamour \ but alfo from 
 (what our moft holy religion with the greateft 
 reafon equally condemns, as being the root from 
 
 whence 
 
 on by every intelligent En^lijhman, and will, 'tis hoped, in time 
 produce the fame amiable fpirit in the ealeji ijlical. 
 
 • It is the part of men, fo guarded from the dangers that attend 
 the fearch of truth in other countries, fo blefted with time and op- 
 portunity, fo adorned with learning and the ixt^ ufe of fcripture, 
 to ftudy the Word of God with afliduity and faithfulnefs ; not as 
 though we were already perfed, but fearching after farther improve- 
 ment ; confeffing ingenuoully in the true fpirit of Proteftantifm, 
 which difclaims infallibility, that if our Church ftiould in every 
 dodrinc it advances ** juftify itfelf ; its own mouth would condemn 
 it; and if it ftiould fay, 1 am perfe<^, it would prove it perverfe, 
 fobv^, 20.'* It is the bufinefs of its members to bring it to perfec- 
 tion by degrees, as they themfelves improve in the knowledge of 
 the Gojpel: Mr, Taylor'% Effay on the Beauty of the Divine CEcono- 
 my, p. 62. I have the pleafure of feeing both the generd plan of 
 thefe Difcourfes, and many fentiments in particular, confirmed by 
 this honcft and ingenious writer, and that without his having read 
 the book. 
 
 • That this is the particular meaning of «a«»<» I Pet, ii. i6, 
 Vid. Btnfon in loc. 
 
 R 3 
 
262 "fhe Progrefs of 
 
 whence thefe fpring) all inward bittemefs, wrath, 
 hatred*: learning to bear with one another's , 
 miilakes, in this, as well as in all other matters; 
 nay, rather the more here ; fmce thefe are of the 
 higheft confequence; and this the only proper 
 method to remove them : thus labouring, as well 
 to reform the errors of our brethren in love, as 
 to promote and confirm their knowledge of the 
 truth ; jiotfor that, in either cafe, we have dorn'mion 
 over their faith 'y but as being helpers of their joy f. 
 And thus fhall religion be at length fuffered to 
 partake the benefit of thofe i?nprovementSy which 
 every thing befide enjoys. 
 
 I defire it may be obferved here once for all, 
 that when I mention improvements in religion, I 
 do not intend a difcovery of new points, or im- 
 proving upon the original revelation itfelf :{:, in 
 any thing efTential to the general doctrine of fal- 
 vation : but only a more pcrfeft comprehenfion 
 of what was formerly delivered ; a view of the 
 extent and excellence of this great myftery con- 
 cealed from former ages ; and which, though 
 given almoft all at once, yet was received per- 
 haps but partially ; at leaft by the bulk of man- 
 kind, as was obferved above § > and foon adul- 
 terated to fuch a degree, as (I beg leave to repeat 
 it) may take yet far more time to rectify ; efpc- 
 
 cially, 
 
 • • Young people ought to be taught, that there Js no hsre/y fo had^ 
 nor fo contrary to the fpirit of Chrijfianity^ as to believe it to be pro- 
 per or lawful to hate ox perfecute a fellow-creature and a brother, for 
 an opinion^ which he declares in the fimplicity and fincerity of his 
 heart, he has impartially examined, and thinks he finds to be agrce- 
 iible to the fenfe of Scripture.' -Ihcughts on FJucntiony p. 28. 
 
 f2 0r.i.24. J See Part ii. p. 160. i Ibid. I56» 
 
 .1 
 
 ) 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 263 
 
 cially, when fo much rubbifti has been fince con- 
 tinually thrown upon the Scriptures, both by 
 trandators and expofitors -, as, if we fet afide the 
 care of a particular providence, which has in this 
 refpea (fo far I mean as relates to the Text *) 
 been very remarkable % -, might make us juftly 
 wonder they have not funk under it. This has, 
 in thefe parts of the world, been for fome time a 
 clearing off, by the help of a more found philo- 
 fophy ; as well as by more fober rules of cnticifm ; 
 a much more clofe, confiftent method of inter- 
 pretation ; which muft produce as great a dif- 
 ference in them, as if they were quite different 
 
 books -f-. 1 J t. 
 
 Though perhaps even here, it would not be a 
 
 difficult talk, were it not too invidious, to fug- 
 geft means of yet farther improvement. Perhaps 
 we ought to attend ftill more to thtHebrew idiom, 
 and obferve the vaft difparity between the Eaft- 
 ern way of fpeaking, and our own ; for want of 
 which, 'tis to be feared, we oft retain the words 
 
 with". 
 
 • The Jefuits are faid to have held frequent confultations fome 
 time ago about cenfuring and correaing of St. Paul's bpiftles 
 
 been as induftrious to correft the comments on them, and rev.e v the 
 doarines deduced from them, it might not perhaps have been fo much 
 amifs, and therefore would in all probability have taken p.ace. 
 1 See Jones'i New Method of fettling the Canon, Partu. c. 2, Sc 
 t ' I cannot but hope, that when it (hall pleafe God to iHr up per- 
 foti of a philofophical genius, well furnifljed -"h-"'"! learn. n? 
 
 and the principles of true philofophy ; and Ihall gu e ^^^^^^^'J 
 concern Yor the advancement of h,s truths ; thefe men, by excrcing 
 
 upon theological matters that inquifuivenefs and fagaciy, that h. 
 m^ade in our age fuch a happy progrefs '" P'>-l<?f°P';'?J °""| .^ ',^ 
 make explications and difcoveries, that will juft.fy more than 1 ...^e 
 ftfd in p?aife of the ftudy of our religion, and the d^ane books that 
 contain the articles of it. For th.fe want not excdleuce, Dat oUy 
 flcilful unvailers.' %/f's Excell. of Tr.eol. ^^. 47- 
 
 R 4 
 
I, 
 
 ' 
 
 264 ^he Progrefs of 
 
 without the feiifc, nay, with a very different 
 one * 'y and by adhering too much to the letter, 
 are apt to overftrain moft things 3 and carry them 
 both beyond common reafon, and the nature of 
 the fubje6l. Perhaps our very reverence for thefe 
 facred writings mifapplied, our too unguarded 
 zeal to do them honour, and fuppoit their di- 
 vine authority, againft that church which fubfti- 
 tutes another in its room, may have contributed 
 to caft a cloud over the whole -, which makes us 
 afraid to look into them, and examine thcfe, with 
 the fame freedom that we do, and find we mult 
 do, every other book which we dcfire to under- 
 ftand: — I mean tlic notion of an abjoliite^ imme- 
 diate infpiration of each part and period ; even 
 where the writers themfelves, by the very manner 
 of exprefling themfelves, moft effeclually difclaim 
 it -j-: which, befide tTie bad effects it may be fup- 
 
 pofed 
 
 • — Qiio clarius appareat Orientalium Scriptorum {!ylum> au- 
 dacioribus tranflationibus refertum, non ex more noftro loquendi 
 hodierno debere exponi, quae maxima pent eft interpretum culpa. Cum 
 fenfum ^-naibj^ inveiligant,magis adcendunt quid ipfi intelligi vellent, 
 fi ita nunc loquerentur; quamquidolim inter populos, nonminus 
 opinionibus et ingenio, quam temporibus et locis a nobis remotos, 
 intelligi potuerit. Cleric, de Stat. Sal. App. Com. Gen. p. 378, 
 
 f See inftances in Whithy on the A^. T. Gen. Pref. p. 6, Several 
 authors by the influence or infpiration of the Holy Ghoft, in this cafe, 
 mean no more than a particular Pro*vide7ue, fuperin tending the 
 Scriptures ; yet are afraid to relinquifh the old term, how impro- 
 perly foever they apply it. And we may obferve, how hard Ibme 
 gooa men ftrain to introduce this fort of infpiration indire^ily, even 
 when they are obliged to own, \\izx prima facie it cannot be jullified. 
 Thus Dcddridge on 2 Cor, xi. 17. * It feems indeed not very juft and 
 natural to interpret this, as fpoken by immediate fuggellion; yet it 
 being, in prefeni circumftances, very proper the ApoiUe fhould fpeak 
 thus, the H. Spit it might by a general, though unperceived influ- 
 ence, lead him into this tradl of thought and exprcifion.* Fam. Exp. 
 Vol IV. fed. 1 8. note a. Comp. Paraphr, ib. Vol. Ill, fcft. 33, p. 
 233. note f. 
 
 
 \ 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 265 
 
 pofed to have at prefent j when once it appears 
 (as foon perhaps it may) to have no good foun- 
 dation in thefe holy books (jx)> 'tis to be feared, 
 
 will 
 
 (ft) As I would not give unnecefTary offence in fuch a tender 
 point as this, which moft writers are ftill very unwilling to give up, 
 exprefsly, though they feem forced to treat it either in a confufed, 
 or a contradictory way ; I ftiall beg leave to expl^n myfelf a little 
 upon this head. 
 
 The true fenfe then of the divine authority of the books of the 0. 7*. 
 and which perhaps is enough to denominate them in general 0to- 
 <w»jt;ro»» feems to be this ; that as in thofe times God has all along» 
 befide the infpeftion, or fuperintendency of his general providence, 
 interfered upon particular occaflons, by giving exprefs commilfions 
 to fome perfons, (thence called prophets) to declare his will in va- 
 rious manners, and degrees of evidence, (fee Smith, Sel. Difc. N. 6.) 
 as beft fuited the occaTion, time, and nature of the fubjedl; and in 
 all other cafes, left them and the reft of the world, as to religious 
 matters, wholly to themfelves: in like manner, he has interpofed 
 his more immediate afliftance, (and notified it to them, as they did 
 to the world) in the recording of thefe revelations ; fo far as that was 
 neceffary, amidft the common (but from hence ttrmc^ facred ) hiftory 
 of thofe times ; and mixed with various other occurences ; in which 
 the hiftorian*s own natural qualifications were fufficient to enable 
 him to relate things, with all the accuracy they required. This 
 feems to be at laft allowed by Abp. Potter, in his elaborate Difcourfes 
 on the SubjeA oi Dire^lion', which he compares to a flcilful rider's 
 guidance of his horfe, PraeleSl, p. 132. who yet fometimes gives up 
 the reins, and fuffers him to take his natural courfe. See p. 140, 1 56, 
 158, 165, 169, 194, 195, and 196. The fcripture- language is in 
 this refpe£t paralleled with that of the old Pythian oracle, where Plu^ 
 tarch fays, non Dei vox eft, non fonus, non metrum ; fed Foeminae. 
 Under the fame infpiration of J)ire£lion, are included feveral in- 
 ftances of mere human infirmity, or ignorance, p. 202, and want of 
 memory, 203, and even ^various legions, 198. Is all this any more, 
 than what we commonly mean by a providential permiflion? or 
 can any other influence of the Spirit be introduced here, befide fuch 
 as may be fuppofed to concur with the operations of mankind in the 
 ordinary af^s of providence? and where a fupernatural interpofi- 
 tion would have been unworthy of its author: which mixture of di- 
 vine and human, in the fame times, things, perfons, and their hifto- 
 ry, feems much more conformable to the other works of God ; and 
 affords many circumftances of credibility, which, though fome of 
 them feem to come in by the bye, and are often contained in a mere 
 parenthefis; yet more clearly evince, and will in all ages more incoii- 
 teftably confirm, the genuinenefs of that relation which is attended 
 with them ; than if fuch revelations had been all made and recorded 
 at one time, by themfelves, and by men altogether over-ruled in 
 their delivery. This 
 
266 '^f Progrefs of 
 
 will produce a worfe, by tending to difcredit that 
 partial one, whether of guidance, zn^ fuperinten- 
 
 dency. 
 
 This likewife feems in a good meafure to have been the cafe with 
 the JV.r. writers; who, notwithftanding the things thev were ^o 
 deliver are moftly of greater confeqoence, and more clofely united 
 in point of time, place, and other circun.ftances ; notwithftanding 
 Ktraordinar^ affifta'nce of the Spirit, which was to abide with 
 them, and lead them into all neceffary truth; and for the moft part 
 either the thing itfelf ftiews, or they give us fufficient intimation, 
 when they are obliged to have recourfe to that afliftance : yet from 
 The very form in wTiich they ufually deliver them, itmuft appear, 
 that this influence is no lefs'frequently fufpended m the delivery of 
 even thefe fundamental truths; it being perhaps peculiar to the So« 
 c/-Goihimfelf, to have the Spirit at all times w,/to».w>vr, or 
 
 limitation : [fee DoMJge on Joh. iii. 34- F?n»- ^"-/J: Jni ?A treat 
 And befide thefe, how oft do the fame perfons condefcend to treat 
 of other inferior, controverfial matters ; ufefuhindeed, 'o-nf to the 
 then prefent, fome to all future times; butfurely of a very different 
 nature from the former ; and in which that influence and afliftance 
 does not feem fo requifite! How juftly do they place the evidence 
 of faas, on their own fenfes only ! declaring -what they have feen and 
 heard; which at all times may, and which alone can, be produced 
 as proper proof. In reafonings, how beautifully do they add the r 
 private judgment; and in affairs of fmaller moment, even th«r 
 conjefture 5r opinion ; to what they had received from 'he W 
 himfelf 1 where circumftances ftiew us the expediency of fuch ad- 
 ditions; and where common fenfe was, and will be always, equally 
 fufficient to diftingniih one from the other ; as it is to interpret he 
 whole Scriptures, (fo far as they become neceffary to be interpreted 
 by us.) without any other more infallible guide. - B« common 
 fenfe Is too often laid afide in fubjeas of this nature. Many good 
 men think, they can never do too much to decry it; to f« 'he Bible 
 at variance with it; to carry the whole up beyond us reach; though 
 by fchemes merely of their own invention rather than foraing any 
 judgment from what they really find within that facred book Not 
 content with a moral evidence of its truth, which is dear, ftrong. and 
 every way fufficient for the conviaion of all fair enquirers ; (vid. 
 Jaiuelot de la Verite. et de I'Infpiration. &c. c. 6 P- 45-) they muft 
 needs introduce another, where there is no room for it; and infift on 
 fuch mi'verfal, abfolute infallibility, as never can be made out. to 
 thofe who are not already perfuaded of it; (and who can have no 
 other evidence for fuch perfuafion^ than the fame moral one, on 
 which that/r«/* is grounded) and which is atlaft either ufelefs; or 
 inconfiftent with thoTe natural proofs, which conftitute the credibility 
 of this and every other hiftory fo circumftanced. Is not a moral 
 evidence enough to affure us of the genuinenefs and incorruptnefs ot 
 thefe writings? Why ftiould it not then, where it can take place, 
 be fufficient for the authors themfclvcs to proceed on in their writ- 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 267 
 
 dency, (if that can properly be called fuch) or of 
 fuggejlion, which upon fome occafions they do 
 claim } which is abfolutely requifite to fecure a 
 due authority to them ; and which, when pru- 
 dently diftinguiftied from the other, has, and we 
 truft ever will appear to have, fufficient ground 
 to fupport itfelf. 
 
 I 
 
 ine > and equally afcertain the truth of what they have written ? and 
 why ftioulcT the generality of the compofiion, (were any great ftrefs 
 ever to be laid upon it) be deemed altogether divine; when the 
 conveyance, which fo much affeas that, and in which fo many parts 
 of itiave fuffered. is allowed to be no more than human ? Moft per- 
 fons now begin to fee. that there is at leaft fome mixture of this 
 latter, in the to^«<^^. ; and I believe, upon due confideration xt 
 will appear that tliere is no greater difficulty to admit it in the matter. 
 uponVeveral occafions; nor perhaps any danger m extending that 
 obfervation to the 'writings of the Apoftles. which a very cautious 
 au hor on this fubjea hat applied to their condua. ' If we confider 
 how ftrong a temptation they would have been under to thmk too 
 highly ofthemfelves. if they had been under a conila„t plenary in- 
 fpfraUon ; it may appear a beauty in the divine ccndua to have left 
 them in fome inftances to the natural weaknefs of their own niinds, 
 (Comp. 2 Ccr. xii. 7. 9. 1°.) and fomctimes to interrupt thofe ex- 
 iraordinary gifts in particular, as he did thofe of healing, (Comp. 
 2 Tim. iv. 20. Phil. ii. 27.) ftiU providing by other hands, a remedy 
 for thofe ill confequences which might have arifen Froin an uncor- 
 reaed mirtake.' Doddridge, Leaures, Part vi Prop^ cxvi. p. 330. 
 
 1 truft the candid reader will believe that I can have no intention 
 here to degrade the holy Scriptures; but rather to free them from 
 an unneceflary load of objeafons, and render then, more ufeful to 
 the chief pur^fes for which. I humbly apprehend, they were defign- 
 ed; hoping thus much may ferve to occafion fome more accurate 
 enquiry into this important fubjea; which has indeed been fre- 
 quently difcuffed in difterent parts of theChriftian world ; but never. 
 fo far as I know, with that fairnefs. freedom, and impartiality, which 
 the thing requires : and whether this be a proper time to canvafs it 
 thoroughly ; whether the generality be qua liied to form more juft 
 and clear conceptions of it now, than formerly ; is with all deference 
 fubmitted to better judges. See the authors on this fubjea in note 
 (h). p. 156. withM;W/.Ws Mifcell. Traas, N. i, 2. B^lParbur- 
 ,.,'s Serm. vi. p. 225, &c. and part of a pofthumous treatife ofCa/. 
 talio on the interpretation of Scripture, confidered under the three- 
 fold diftinaion of Oracles, Tcjiimonics, and Opiniom ; inferted m mt- 
 /«'s N. T. Vol. II. p. 884. &c or ^-//^s's Effay on Inlpiration, an- 
 uexed to his Paraphrafe on I Tim. 
 
. 
 
 268 ^he Progrefs of 
 
 To this high, I had almoft faid, blind reve- 
 rence for the words of holy Scripture, perhaps 
 I may be allowed to add another, full as great, 
 relating to t\it fenfe : not the true, genuine one ; 
 for which we cannot furely have too much con- 
 cern 'y but one which fometimes widely varies 
 from it, and yet is very apt to flip into its place; 
 the commonly received, traditional one. This 
 do6trine we learn from thofe very adverfaries, 
 which in the former we were driving to oppofc: 
 and though indeed it have a fliew of deference to 
 public wifdom, and humility ; yet in time, pro- 
 bably, may be attended with no better confe- 
 quences: if men cannot diftinguifli pure, primi- 
 tive Chrijiianit)\ from that which oft may happen 
 not to be fuch, and through which the other 
 always fuffers; and if in this, which of all things 
 is moft deferving of their care and caution, they 
 will content themfelves with the fenfe of the 
 multitude ; and take that for a fure, fufficient 
 rule, which they know to be far from even ex- 
 cufmg thofe who have means of judging for 
 themfelves; and which they would be extremely 
 vm willing to abide by in almoft any other cafe *. 
 
 But 
 
 • c 
 
 Do not we blame the papifts for their implicit faith ; for be- 
 lieving as the church believeth ? And how arc we better than they, 
 if we take up our religious principles on truft, and do not carefully 
 adjuft them by the ftandard of divine revelation ? Perhaps thofe who 
 have gone before us, who yet may be allowed to have been pious and 
 virtuous men, did not fee the truth in this and fome other cafes; 
 and good reafons may be given why they did not: But muft not we 
 therefore endeavour to underftand it? Mull their knowledge be rhe 
 precife mcafure of ours ? or, muft the truth and word of God, be 
 limited by any human underftanding whatfoever? What if they had 
 known but one half of what they did know> muft we never have 
 
 known 
 
 Natural Religion and Science. 269 
 
 But I Ihould be forry to be found fo far contra- 
 dicting my main defign, as to make things in any 
 refpedl, worfe at prefent than they really are. On 
 this fubjeft, I could hardly avoid hinting at fome 
 few of thofe impediments, that feem to lie moft 
 in our way to perfection; and hope at this time 
 of day, a hint of that kind may be hazarded 
 without offence: yet notwithftanding thefe, or 
 any others which could be produced; I muft beg 
 leave to conclude, that we have encouragement 
 enough left to proceed with chearfulnefs and vi- 
 gour in it ; till every thing which lets, in God's 
 good time, be taken away; and thie religion, 
 righteoufnefs, and virtue, fhine in perfeft beauty: 
 //// we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the 
 knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfeB man, unto 
 the meafure ofthejlature of the fulnefs ofChriJl. 
 
 known more ? What if they were under ftrong prejudices of educa- 
 cation, and would not examine? What if they fo reverenced the 
 opinions of other good and learned men ; or imagined thefe points 
 to be of fo facred a nature; that they durft not examine? or, what 
 if they fancied them fo much above all human comprehenfion, that 
 it was their duty not to examine ? or fo clear and certain, that 
 there was no need to examine? or of fuch weight and importance, 
 that it was impious to examine ? Whatever their foibles, or what- 
 ever their fetters were ; what is that to us ? Are we not bound to 
 follow Chrift, and to call him alone Mafter?* Taylor on Or. Sin, p. 
 623. 2d Ed. 
 
 »/: 
 
 R E- 
 
' 
 
 I 
 
 (.1: 
 
 I 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
 O N T H fi 
 
 LIFE and CHARACTER 
 
 O F 
 
 CHRIS T. 
 
 ] 
 
REELE CTI ONS 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 Life and Charaaer of CHRIST. 
 
 JOHN XX. 30, 31. 
 
 And many other figm truly did JESUS, in the pre-^ 
 fence of his difciples-y which are not written in this 
 book. 
 
 But thefe are written^ that ye might believe that Jefus 
 is the CHRIST, the Son of God -^ and that be^ 
 lievingy ye might have life through his Name. 
 
 THESE two verfes, if they did not originally 
 conclude the gofpel of St. John^ as fome 
 learned men have thought*; arc, however, fo 
 far parallel to thofe words which now ftand at 
 the end of this, and probably refer to it jointly 
 with the three other gofpels; that they ferve 
 equally to inform us, what the true intention of 
 their writers was, viz. not to give a complete ac- 
 count 
 
 • Vid, Grot, ct Cleric, in loc. cum BihL Choi/, Tom. x*tr. p. 387. 
 Vojl Harm. L. iii. c. 4. Add Critical Notes, p. 79. Dr. W. Worthing'" 
 ton, Serm, p. 28. and on the other fide. Mill, Prolegom. and Lard' 
 ner, Credib. Vol. XIII. c. 9. p. 454, &c. 
 
i 
 
 Rejte^ions m the 
 
 count of all the things that » did (C), much tefs 
 of all the reafons, and occafions of them , bat only 
 to record fo many naked jaa. 1. of each kind 
 
 Diir. p. 587- from J"'-" "• ?• 
 
 Prelim. Obf. to Harm. /«#«. , ^j. ^„, y.ffed Sa- 
 
 The farae appears to be '^e "^ ,7^, '.ti^ularly St. -John, ' ufe , 
 v-iour-s W^""'.?'; ^^'l^^^V*)- r. moft p^rt^ay bcLppoft not to 
 a ihortnels of llyle; ar,d for '■^'Lrf Pfcen b^ut to Vet down the 
 relate them « large, as they ^^^;\<^°^^^l,r^„7r' ^^ ^e fupplied by 
 principal heads thereof, ^^^^'"g '^"' SV' K^''' ^^m. Vol. 
 It rSS^lherr klSetarceTp^oduce/tot.^^^ purpofe. 
 " r^Ltre^iden. who th^t^n... .^^3 wl.. ai.i .es t£ 
 profeffedthcml-elves, the.r bufinefs XLofe other particulars which 
 Uat miracles he had ^-'"PS^-V-Vhlhlv made ufe o/nodifquifitions ; 
 wereadintheirgofpeh|:nwMc^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 but in a plain and taithful "^"^"7, °^„„,„ <.are and wifdom o£ 
 thofe matters. And tins looks '••"^'^^^if^^^^^tYon might be faid 
 Divine Providence th.uno«^^^ 
 
 to be mixed with the golpei , wni^i ^^^ ^j^ 
 
 tad the Apoftles in tl'e.r writings fa down not " > ^^^^ 
 
 themfelvesiad fcen. but their conjeanresalfo. ana U^^ 
 the aa ons and flyings of our bav our i.C/'-r^^^^^^^ f ^ 
 
 Comp.. W^^de la Vcr et^de »^PJ- j^^^-^, . ,, aoth not 
 Part 11. c. 6. p. 30«' :»o5, wt.. «i •„ i, -r'k^re Writers toconfider, 
 appear that e..ruc..e into Jenund^^ or what 
 
 how this or the other attion w""'" VV . , ^ ^11 attending 
 
 objeaions might be ra.fed upon thein. f"' *"fj°f j^\hink whether 
 to\his. they lay the ff f b'f°'^ y°Vthe?eX wUl not believe 
 they would appear credible or not ^ hey tell the truth, and at- 
 their teftimony, th.re is np help [0 > • t^ey.^^ ^ ^ ^^^^ 
 
 tend to nothing elfe. bureiy, im^ ^ j^^ ^^j. 
 
 they publilhed nothing to the wfr d, but what, upon 
 
 denU they ^^^F;i\^'^^^:Jtt^.\!l\ tteir hiftories. the 
 * It IS remarkable, tnai inrougu v v 
 
 •Evaagelifts have not paffcd -«/»^°-^S« io^aShTs eSemies^; 
 
 of befriend.; nor '^'^l"'" ""'.^ hive been and no doubt, would 
 althoughmuchof both kind^-8<^^^^ .^ ,^^ 
 
 have been done by them, tiafl '"^X life is not praifed n the gof- 
 
 of impollure. or enthufufm Chnft »- ar" not commended,\is 
 
 .pel, his death is not lamented, his '"ends are no .^ 
 
 Le'mies are not reproached,. "O^^f-" J'^-^^Jj -''"aU a who Jad, 
 
 told naked and unadorned, juft *^." f^PP'r^^f.i'^j. a manner of 
 
 -are left - i * ^^.^^^^^^^^ -^ 
 
 r"l;,StfuSr the" guidance of the moll fobcr reafo.jnd 
 
 Life and CharaSler of CHRIS 'T. 275 
 
 as would be abundantly fufficient to lay a fure 
 foundation for our faith in his divine miffion, and 
 by that faith lead us to eternal happinefs. 
 
 And indeed, the account which we find thei^e 
 deUvered, plain as it is and fimple, is yet in itfelf 
 of fo very extraordinary a nature ; and exhibits 
 fuch an important and amazing fcene of wifdom, 
 power, and goodnefs; as muft, when duly at- 
 tended to, convince us, that it could have no lefs 
 than a divine original. 
 
 What I propofe at prefent is, to confider thefe 
 fgtjs of Jefus in their utmoft latitude ; . as com- 
 prehending the feveral circumftances of his life, 
 whereby he proved himfelf to be the very Chnft ; 
 gave evidence of his authority to undertake; and 
 really accomplifhed the work of our redemption. 
 I (liall endeavour to lay before you fuch a general 
 view of this tranfaftion, as may help to difcover 
 the fitnefs and propriety of our Saviour's con- 
 du6l in the whole. 
 
 Let us begin where the beloved Difciple dates 
 his gofpel, (who had much higher manifeftations, 
 and a more perfeft knowledge of his Mafter, 
 than any other of the EvangeHfts;) and with him 
 reflect a little on Chrift's original Jiate, sxiAfubfe- 
 quent humiliation *. That a Being of inconceiv- 
 able 
 
 deeply impreffed with the dignity, importance, and truth of their 
 {vh^eO,.' Macknight, Harm. Prel. Obf. p. 6^. Comp. Dr. Gerrard's 
 Differtations, Diff. i. feft. 2. or Lardnerh two very excellent Dif- 
 courfes on the internal marks of Credibility in the N, T. Memoirs 
 of his Life, &c. p. 240, Sec, 
 
 • * To a Being who exifted, before his birth, in fome happier ftatc, 
 the m^hole of the embodied ftate may be regarded as one continued aft 
 pf humiliation j and in a fenfe, as on© uninterrupted fcene of/uffer^ 
 
 S2 
 
 zng. 
 
il 
 
 n 
 
 2«5 RefeBiom on the 
 
 able perfeaions fhould dhejl himfilff of every 
 glorious attribute ; and appear not only in the 
 form, but real nature of man, and in its moft im- 
 perfea and forlorn cftate j — under all the wants, 
 and weakneffes, and pains of infancy {o) ! That 
 
 he 
 
 ,>..• 7 A'. Scott, Serm. Vol. IT. p. 164- T^iat our bleffed Saviour 
 had fiKh an exiftence, is fhewn by Bp. Fo.vUr, and the author of //■« 
 GlonlfChrf/l cs God-man difplayrd : [Comp. p. 87-='bove, where 
 ?S {uthors are referred to] but that this pre-exU ence w.s ma 
 human foul, (fuppofing fuch a thing to be intelligible) wi.l not per- 
 haps be foreadfly admitted. Comp Buikhy'. ^---y °/;'- ^°f: 
 
 6el B ii c. I. and a Utter on the /.o^^j by Laydner, 1759. whole 
 arguments againft the pre-exiftence itfelf feem to deferve attention, 
 XT^TL Xfc in X^lru. Doarine of J Chnjl by PMeleMs V.. 
 gornie.ru, 1767. and in the Theolog. Repof. Vol. I. p. 442- ^ °1- I • P" 
 fiT and Vol III. p. 58. &c.) were it only to teach us modefty 
 4^]*ca^0DT in deddi'ng a point where probably a more accurate 
 knowledge of' the fcripture language may yet be "eceifary to a clear 
 determinltion. and which after all can hardly be F-ed "^M 
 to the Chriftian Inftitution. Add the Comment on Chnft s Prayer, 
 Ft. iii. and -Theol. Refof. No. 3. Vol. III. _ ^ /r •„ . 
 
 + Phil. ii. 7. J^fTo. «"<'•''. emptied, cxmanivit, Greg. I^j^mi 
 Cor XV ivacuavit. Hieron. in G«/. iii. .J. Some underUand this m 
 the moft literal fenfe, SecfTalts's Ghry ofChnJl a> God-man, p. 222, 
 
 216, &c. Comp. J"*"''''''- 5- ,. . . ■ 4 J 
 
 ( ) This circumftance of our Saviour's fubm.tt.ng to be .reduced 
 .. (X low a ftate as that of a «««<w i«fant, on his entrance into this 
 1 TnLad of rainne all that grateful admiration which fo won- 
 TrSu. tLg rcnuS has of fate been turned to Ihock the faith 
 of be ieve s"lnd\ecome the great fcofFand ^""iW-ng-block of in- 
 fidels But though we cannot prefume to account for the whole of that 
 extra;rfinary tranfaftion, [the knowledge whereof is probably in a 
 Treat mearre referved for tSie next life ; yet may we. 1 think, eafily 
 fLnfome obvious reafons, why he fhould appear m this manner 
 r. Scr th^n another. .. In order to prepare the world for his re- 
 cep.ion to keep up an expcaation of him, as well as to dift ngu.ft 
 htn, when he did appear, /nd give a lafting proof that he was really 
 .the feveral qualifications of his pcrfon, and chief circum- 
 Zce's of h ad entwer. at large defcr^bed '-g bejore. h w« 
 Sfed in particular, that he Siould be of the feed of Abraham, 
 f -K^of T^/i family of Da-vid, &c. But if he had appeared at 
 fi:!.^ in an adult ftaTe,\e would have had no more relation to one 
 Se or famHv, than another: if what fome of the Jc^> adv=mced 
 (:^^^Axtradltions,\John^■^x.^l. \'\A,Wh,tly; comp Bp. CW- 
 IrOcf p 2?o and Vind. p. 429.] that when Cbr,JI cometh. «. 
 t; wfr"r*:»« he is, we?e uuc; it would have been impoil.ble 
 
 II 
 
 Life and CharaEler of CHRIST. 277 
 
 he fhould be content to recover his former qua- 
 lities 
 
 for any fuch prophecies as thefe to have been accomplished ; and 
 extremely difficult for the people to whom he was primarily fent, 
 much more for others, ever to have come to a fufficient certainty 
 about him* 2. It appears from all God's difpenfations to mankind, 
 that though there be evidence fufficient to convince impartial judg- 
 ments; yet there is none of fuch a nature, as would utterly confound 
 their underftandings, and compel their affent. Now had Chrill come 
 from heaven, in the full brightnefs of his Father's glory, attended 
 with a numerous hoft of angels ; in fome fuch manner as the Jejuii 
 miffionary was pleaied to reprefent to his Chinefe auditory ; £fee his 
 very remarkable bermon in Miliar^ Prop. Chrift. Vol. U. p. 29i,&c.] 
 <ar h^d he entered this world in a way wholly new and marvellous ; 
 had he made his very firft appearance among the chief Je^jos, in a 
 ilate of maturity; publickly declaring who he was, and wherefore 
 ke was fen t; and inllantly demanding their fubmiffion, by a fuit- 
 able train of moll liupendous miracles ; fo that none of them fhould 
 have been able either to miftake, or refill him; this i^ethod, befide 
 its giving tO) much countenance to the wrong notioins ^hey had al- 
 ready entertained of the Meffiah's kingdom, •«- its encouraging them 
 to come mio it upon pripci^les entirely «ppofite to its trueconftitu- 
 tion ; ana -contradifting the moil noble and effential parts of his de- 
 fign, [v/c. \\hpunfying, [Mai. iii. 2,3. Y'id.Pocock) fome of them, and 
 i^ffenng others to perfill {Luke ii. 34. vid. Clarke) in their wilful ig^ 
 norance [Ads iii. 17. i Cor. 2. 8.) and hardened unbelief; in order 
 thereby to bring about the greatell benefit to mankind in general. Vid* 
 note g, below, and Ccnjidcrations., p. 142.] this method would have 
 been too violent and overbearing to have left any room for real 
 jsierit ; any exercife of the chief moral virtues^ in ihofe who adhered 
 to him upon fuch an immediate view; and the relation of it would 
 have been of too felfiOi and fufpicious a fort, ever to engage the 
 belief of dillant ages, and nations : it would have been far every 
 way from afrording any competent trial of that fair, humble, up- 
 right, and ingenuous temper, which is the chief glory and happi- 
 nefs of each fincere worfhipper of God; the difcovery whereof was to 
 be one great end of the Meffiah's office; {Luke\\, 34, 35. yid.C/^/vV.) 
 and to encourage and reward which, is the true aim of all r^sligious 
 difpenfations. 
 
 Many unanfwerabk reafons have been given, why it fhould feem 
 fitting that the Son of God, w£re he to vifit and converfe with us, 
 fiiould condefcend to conform himfelf \nfeu£ral refpedls to Beings 
 of our frame, and for a time become like one of them; though that 
 mull needs imply great degradation and abafement in him : why 
 then may not we fuppofe this to have been the cafe in all refpefts, 
 (fm only excepted;) without any juft imputation, either on his pu- 
 rity, or perfect wifdom? Since any kind of communication between 
 fuch a divine perfon, and creatures of folow a clafs, will infer fome 
 very confiderable humiliation in him; fliould not all arguments 
 againfl it, merely drawn from the 4egres of that humiliation, bp 
 .«;2eemed of little weight ? 
 
2^8 * RcfeEliom on the 
 
 lities one by one, in flow degrees *, and mixed 
 with' all the infirmities of childhood! That after 
 he had received fuch wifdom and knowledge, as 
 was far above the fituation he then appeared in; 
 he fliould nevcrthclefs continue under a filent 
 lubjeaion to his parents, in a fervile, low, labo- 
 rious employment, for the beft part of thirty 
 vears-+! That when he entered on his miniftry:}:, 
 and was cndovvred with full powers for the due 
 difcharge of it, and able to deltroy his feveral ad- 
 verfaries with a fmgle word; he fliould fliill un- 
 dergo the various aflaults of thofe, who eagerly 
 purfued him for no caufe, but one that merited 
 
 a 
 
 • Luhxu 52. vid. Whithy, , .^ ^ ,. r;^ r /• j • 
 
 t Thus Ibme render Luke Hi. 23. Jnd Jejus himfelf then li<ved in 
 Juhjecliony i. e. to his Tuppofed parents, or had been governed by them, 
 about thirty years: a^x'i^'.yo; there fignifying the fame as^vTroraa^o. 
 ttsvor, c. ii. 51. Beylif:, Ledurcs, p. 273. and Scledl. Difc. p. 76. 
 from Crit. Exam, of the Gofpels, p. 27, &c. * Harfii as it may 
 feem, that the great Reformer of the human race fiiould devote molt 
 of his days to a fervile occupation; it furmllies us with one of the 
 flrongeft evidences of the divine original ot Chriilianity. Had Je/us 
 iludied every branch of fcience under the bell mailers of thofc days, 
 we might have afcribcd his fu^erior accompli Ihments to human 
 caufcs f but, when delHtute of all the means of improvement, he 
 burfts out of obfcurity with a luftre that furpafled all the Orators 
 and Philofophers of antiquity, we cannot fuipend our belier of his 
 cUvinity a moment/ Library, No. ix. p. 4^2- The propriety of 
 Chn^s humble appearance at his birth, and his oblcut ity in private 
 life, is explained by Dr. Hu^iter, Obfervations, &c. c. i. f. 2. c. 2. 
 
 ' V His deferring it to that age was, as Ligh/fcct obferves, according 
 to the/^.v, AW. iv. 3, 23, 35, 43» 47- )'^'^ ^j'^} ^"^ ^ ^1^9 ^°": 
 formitv to the fame law preferved in all the chief parts of it. It 
 took place immediately after the ceafing of Jch^i Baptilt s niiniHry, 
 delivered the fame doftrine of repentance, and earned on the fame 
 defien of a general reformation. See Hunter's Obfervations on the 
 Hillory of Jefus Chrill, c. 2. f. 2. That at the commencement of 
 this office he was very properly prepared for the execution of it, 
 both by a due exercife of devotion, and a liveiy prefiguration ot the 
 principal difficulties that attended it, is well (liewn in an Enquiry into 
 the Nature and Deftgnof CbrijVs Temptation in tk Wilder nejs, by U. 
 
 Life and CharaBer ofCHRISr. 279 
 a very different return ; viz. his attempting to 
 refcue them from their captivity to iin and Satan, 
 and reftore them to the liberty of the fins of God; 
 — by reconciling them to his government, from 
 which they had fo long departed ; raifing them 
 from that abjed ftate of degeneracy and cor- 
 ruption, into which they were fallen ; reducing 
 them to a right fenfe and fmcere praftice of their 
 duty, and thereby reinftating them in the divine 
 favour ; and rendering them meet to be partakers 
 of a happy immortality. —When in the profe- 
 cution of this defign, he meets with a moft un- 
 kind reception from the governors of that na- 
 tion to which he immediately direfts himfelf; 
 inftead of publickly difplaying all the powers 
 with which he was invefted, and admitting all 
 that homage, which the high charader of fuch a 
 meffenger from heaven, muft have commanded 
 from the multitude; but which ill comported with 
 the ends for which he came, and with the doftrine 
 he had to deliver * : — Inftead, I fay, of accept- 
 ing 
 
 * • The Dh'Ine powers with which Chriji was invefted, were de- 
 ficned as the feal of his miffion ; and accordingly, they were never 
 applied to a different purpofe. This ftnft appropriauon of hu 
 miracles to their proper intention, ferved to po.int « out n?ore clear- 
 Iv, and to keep it in conftant view ; to manifeft the wifdom and 
 neceffity of the works themfelves, and to preferve their dignity and 
 authority, which would have been impaired, if not deftroyed, by a 
 more Eer.eral application of them. As Chriji never applied them to 
 any purpofe foreign to their grand intention ; fo it was in a very pe- 
 culiar manner nefeffary, that they Ihould never be employed to pro- 
 tea himfelf from the calamities and diftrefles, to which human na- 
 ture is incident. Had he, when made in the likenefs of men, faved 
 himfelf by miracles from the evils of humanity ; where had been 
 his conflia, his viaory, his triumph? or where the confolaaon and 
 benefit his followers derive from his example, his merit, his crown? 
 fufferings were the theatre, on which he difplayed his divine vir- 
 
aSo Refecfiojts on the 
 
 ing that due tribute of efteem and veneration, 
 which muft naturally attend the opening his di- 
 vine commiflion with the more plain undefigning 
 people ; but which would have no other efFeft 
 upon the invincible prejudices of their rulers, 
 than to increafe their oppofition, give them occa- 
 lion to mifreprefent him flill the more, and grow- 
 more violent in perfecuting all his followers : — 
 He mercifully choofes to avoid every thing of this 
 kind, that might raife their envy *, and exafpe- 
 rate their mahce^ conceahng his pre-eminence 
 under the mean garb of poverty ; and confining 
 his wonders for the moft part to private places, 
 and obfcure villages i till he had done enough to 
 afcertain the evidence, and eftabllfli the belief of 
 his divine authority amongft them ; till he was 
 ready to fini(h all that remained for him to do in 
 a more publick manner, by witnefTmg his laft 
 good confejjion^ both to the Jewijl and the Roman 
 magiftrates ; by declaring the true end of his 
 coming into the world j and bearing teftimony to 
 
 his 
 
 
 \ 
 
 tues ; and they were both the ground of his advancement to the glo^ 
 rious office of our Redeemer, and a natural means of infpiring him 
 with compalTion to all who were to follow him** Farmer''^ Enquiry 
 jntoChrill's Temptation, p. 71, 72. Comp. Benfju^s Life of Chrift, 
 p. 34. 
 
 • To name one inftance out of many. A ftrong pr:>of of this 
 appears in his forbidding the leprous peifon to divulge the manner 
 of his cure, [as he did others in like cafes for the like reafons ;] and 
 likewife in ordering him to prefent himfelf to the examination of 
 the/r/V/?, who was to judge of, and bear teftimony to his being cured 
 by a divine power ; and who might otherwife have taken occalion 
 to complain of him as a violator of the law, and an invader of the 
 facerdotal ofHce. Matt, viii, 4. Mark i. 44. Luke v. 14 See Le Clerc^ 
 Harm. p. 92. or hij Add. to Ham. on Matt, viii. 4. or LightfooU 
 Harm. Vol. I. p. 648. Add note (t) below, p. . and BenforC% 
 Life of Chrift, c. 9. 
 
 u 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIST. 28 1 
 
 his moft unblameable life in it, before thefe as 
 iniquitous judges ; and (which was* the neceffary 
 confequence of that, without either violently over- 
 ruling them, or miraculoufly efcaping from them) 
 fealing the fame confeflion with his blood (tet). 
 
 Con- 
 
 (w) Though only one end of our Saviour's DeatJj is here cxpresfly 
 mentioned, viz. the confirmation of that important truth of his being 
 the MfJJiah ; which he at length declared publickly, and which de^ 
 claration more immediately occaiioned it ; yet I would not have this 
 underftood exclufively of any others, which may appear to be con- 
 tained in that great event; particularly the refpedl it may have to 
 an atoning facrifices [at leail fo far as that is conciliatory ^ and even, in 
 one fenfe of the word, 'vicarious \ inafmuch as many extraordinary 
 benefits and deliverances redounded to us through his fufreringsj 
 which has been in part intimated above; [Conliderations, p. 51,52.] 
 and which is ftill perhaps defenfible, if taken in the way propofed, 
 [ib. not. /.] viz. as merely 2ifckeme ofGo-vermnenti or moral confti- 
 tution of the Deity, moft apt to let us into the depth of divine wif- 
 dom and goodnefs ; and lead us to fome fuitable imitation of them : 
 and which accordingly, the Scripture reprefents as flowing origi- 
 nally from the unbounded love of God the Father; as aa effefl of 
 his own free grace, and unmerited bounty ; [Ben/on, Life of Chrift, 
 p. 443.] not as being in itfelf abfolutcly neceilary to render him plar 
 cable and merciful, who was always infinitely fuch ; or the means 
 of reconciling him to us ; but rather of reconciling, or reducing us to 
 him ; [Rom, v. 10. I Cor. v. 18, 20. See Script. Doftr. of Red. 0.3, 
 No. 218. Fojiery Ufefulnefs, &c. p. 330. Lardmr^ Serm. on Gal. iii, 
 13. Memoirs, p. 191, &c.] nor, laftly, as implying that infinite fa- 
 tisfadtion to vindiftive juftice ; that complete payment of the debt, 
 which leaves no room for grace or bounty. * Not as an equivalent^ 
 ^without njuhich God could not, and ivith ivhich he could not but pardon 
 iln ; but as an atonement, which the wifdom and goodnefs of God was 
 pleafed freely to appoint, and freely to accept, as fuprcme governor 
 of the univerfe,* Clarke, Serm. Hi. Neither, in truth, are we faid to 
 be redeemed frorn the hands of God ; but from thofe of our enemies i 
 Luke i. 68, 71. and to be purchafed or redeemed to God, Renj, v. 9. 
 Comp. I Cor. vi. 20. Nor is the great work of man's redemption 
 put entirely upon this fingle a*^ of our B. Saviour; but rather on 
 the whole Qf his miniftry; his complete charadler, or univerfal righ^ 
 teoufnefs ; which is placed in full oppofition to the^« of Adam : as 
 by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation 'y even 
 fo by the righteoufnefs of one, the free gift came upon all men unto jufti* 
 fcation of life, &c. Rom. v. i9, 19. Vid. Taylor in loc. and Script. 
 Do6lr. of Atonement, c. 9. Neverthelefs, as in that cafe Jdam*s firft 
 a(^ of Difohcdicnce had its particular punifhment annexed, viz. Death ^ 
 j[denounced by way of pofitive penalty, though naturally fit upon 
 
 forefight 
 
•I 
 
 ll 
 
 ill 
 
 28 2 RefleSiioHS on the 
 
 Confidently with the fame plan, the perfons 
 he chofe for .partners and companions in this 
 
 work, 
 
 forefight of the cafe, and in fome other views expedient for a ftate 
 of difcipline, Vid. Difc. on Death] and greater (Irefs laid on it than 
 any fubfequent ones ; probably becaufe it was the firft, and made 
 way for all others : fo to the death of Chrift, that laft and highell 
 inftance of his fufFering and obedience, [Phil. ii. 8.] more efficacy 
 feems to be attributed ; this being the completion, IJob. xix. 30.] of 
 his undertaking to remove the efFeds of that original, as well as of 
 all fubfequent tranfgrefllons ; by exhibiting a perfeft chara£ler in 
 our nature, and thereupon obtaining terms of more advantage for 
 it ; by leading us through death to a better life, and giving at once 
 the cleareft evidence, and exemplification of it •: more, I fay, feems 
 to be placed in that, than any of the reft ; though they are all ne- 
 cefTary and efTential parts of his office, and therefore always to be 
 taken together with it. Some perfons indeed underftand no more by 
 Chrift's dying for us, than the voluntary laying down of his life as 
 a tejlimony to the truth of all his doarine, and in that fenfe fuffering 
 for our hnefit ; which was, no doubt, greatly fo, and as fuch of 
 great merit with the Father : but that, I apprehend, does not reach 
 the whole idea, nor render this ad fo proper and peculiar to Chrift 
 (in contradiftindion to all other martyrs ; who, though they had no 
 abfolute right to life, yet by the common courfe of nature were en- 
 titled to a longer continuance in being here ; and therefore, their 
 voluntary refignation of it, in the fame caufe, may fo far be fuppofed 
 to have merit alfo with God ;) this fenfe, I fay, of Chrift's dying/oA- 
 us, is not fo peculiar to him, as the Scripture feems to reprefent it ; 
 and as it appears when viewed in the other light, in which it is more 
 ufually placed : Nor does the former feem lufficient to account for 
 all thofe ftrong terms made ufeof in defcribing it, by way of ran- 
 fom, and the price of our redemption from death, or deftruftion ; as 
 the purchafe of a refurreftion to everlaUing life ; as reaching beyond 
 the curfe entailed on us by the firft Adam ; and not only reverfing it, 
 but raifing us to a condition above that from which he fell. Rom,v. 
 1 5, 20, &c. which therefore implies greater benefit, and more abundant 
 grace ; not onl/ tending to qualify us for fuch privileges, but aftually 
 procuring, and conveying them to us. 'Tis true, fuch terms as ran- 
 fom, or redemption, buying, purchafe, &c. are fometimes ufed in a more 
 lax fignification, and without any proper price : Exod. vi. 6. xv.13. 
 Deut. vii. 8. xv. 15. 2 Sam. vii. 23. Pf. Ixxvii. 15, &c. [Vid. Taylor 
 in Rom. p. 7.] where what is termed a redemption, was effefted by 
 power, and not price : but where the confideration is expresfty affigned 
 ^ and 
 
 * This he did, both by his own rifing from the grave, and vifibly 
 afcendinjf into Heaven ; and by raifing many others at the fame time» 
 who probably afccnded with him, though not in the fame vif;ble man- 
 ner. See Benfons Diifert. on Matt, xxvii. S'^iSi- ^'fi oj Qhrijl, p. ^9^- 
 Comp. C/tT/V. in Ef, L. iii. 8. 
 
 Life and Character of CHRIST'. 283 
 
 work, were of the loweft clafs, as well in ftation, 
 as abilities 5 and who could only follow him at 
 
 firft 
 
 and infiftcd on, as in the prefent cafe, [Matt. xx. 2^. i Cor. vi. 20. 
 vii. 23.] this feems to confine the words more clofely to their origi- 
 nal import. Vid. Gujfet, Com. L. Ebr, in voce ^^^ p. 158. It muft 
 likewile be confeffed, that ChrijVs mediatorial office is compared to 
 many other things under the Jeujijh difpenfation ; v. g. to the 
 priefthood, and its feveral branches, and appendages. He is faid to 
 bear, or bear a^ay our fins, in refemblance of that Goat which was 
 prefented before the Lord upon the day of Expiation. Vid. Sykes on 
 Heb. ix. 28. He is ftiled our high-prieft, and propitiatory, or mercy- 
 feat, »Xa$j;5»o» ; as well as propitiation, iXac/x®' : the pafchal-lamb, 
 (dying at the very time when that was facrificed) a fin-offering, 
 peace-offering. Sec. His body termed the temple ; his fleftx the vail 
 of i\it/anftumfandcrum, and he himfelf defer i bed as leading the way 
 into it, &c. By a variety of fuch things are his perfon and charafter 
 denoted, as fully anfwering to, and tar exceeding all fuch, in the 
 good, falutary effeds of his undertaking; though that cannot pro- 
 perly be confined, or appropriated to any one of them : Nor Ihould 
 we therefore urge an entire conformity between it and any of thefe 
 particulars ; or think this fufficiently proved, when we produce a 
 number of paffages concurring to reprefent the thing in that view ; 
 nor need we attempt to explain any fuch away ; but may allow them 
 their full force; fince there are many others likewife, which repre- 
 fent the fame thing under very different images ; and thefe in fome 
 refpefts incompatible with each other : which feems to fhew, that all 
 fuch reprefentations are but partial ones, and highly figurative. Sec 
 Bournes 6th Serm. Vol. II. Ben/on on i Job, i. 7. or his Life of Chrijl^ 
 c. II. fe6l. I. Script. Do(5lr. of Remiflion, A. D. 1761. Fleming'^ 
 Dodr. of the Eucharift, 1763, Balguf^ EfTay on Redemption, or 
 Theolog. Repof. N°. ii. p. 1 34, &c, ib. 346, and N". vi. p. 420, &c. 
 or Dr. Harvuood, New Introd. V. 2. § 17. p. 225, &c. Thus much 
 may be allowed ; but then it ought to be acknowledged alfo, that to 
 this notion of atonement, reference is had more frequently in fetting 
 forth the end of Chrift*s death ; to which therefore it may be fup- 
 pofed to bear a nearer, and more (Irict relation ; God having been, 
 pleafed to * order, that it (hould be reprefented and regarded as fuch, 
 nay, defcribed in the flrongell facrifical phrafes, fmce it anfwered 
 completely all the rational purpofes that fuch cculd ever ferve.* 
 Fojler, Lfefulnefs, &c. p. 332. And notwithftanding that the chief 
 end of Chrifl*s fuffering was unknown to the feveral inftruments 
 employed therein ; which was rather permitted to follow, as it were 
 on courfe, from the perverfe malice of the Jews; without any fuch 
 intention either in them, or the Remans, as accompanied the formal 
 offering up a facrifice; yet was it pointed out by Chriji himfelf, 
 (Vid. Outram L. ii. c. 3. or Whithy on Job. xvii. 19. and on Heb. ii, 
 11.) who by the kud voice with which he uttered his lafl words, 
 
 {Pod 
 
u 
 
 234. RejkSiiom on the 
 
 firft upon the loweft views ; and would at every 
 turn, be urging and impatient to have thefe ac- 
 
 coniplifhed ; 
 
 tPoclon Matt, xxvii. 50. Ushtf. Vol.II. P-'354- D/''':^?"/«*«3• 
 16.) and other circumftances, (M««.xxvi.53. /«*-''^'"^;' '^^*'f.; 
 that his life was not violently taken from him ; nor a pe»oa f"" '" 
 tt the ..nton cour/e of.hJs, ^HalUt, D.fc Vol. 1 . p^ f 5^£f - 
 de Reb. Cbnji. ante Ccnji.l^c. I. f. lO.* Benfin, Life °' <-"""> P" 
 r,4.) but voluntarily ref.gned into his Father's hand. ^^ h^h^d fc^" 
 ^o,t fignified ; Joh\. if. and his death thereby, ?cc°«i^S '° J^'^ 
 own requeft accepted in like manner as facnfices ufed to be, on the 
 mo& folemn occafions; made the great feal of a general «^«^«'. 
 .um«l to an univerfal benefit to the whole human race J^nd render- 
 ed of more value in the fight of God, than any, or all the perform- 
 ances of this kind put together. Thus i T.m. n. 6. it is termed 
 ^T.^«r.«., i. e. iM or in the room of a facnfice : and thus Matt. 
 XX 28 and Ma/ix. 45. X»Tfo. «t. ^.^^«» may perhaps be inter- 
 preted as if x.rf.. Jrl underftood, and fignify a ranfom .ntkeflaa, 
 If, he many, or Jl the piacular facrifices or atonemen^ under the law 
 S-e Richie's peculiar Doftrines of Revelauon, P'. iv. p. IJl. 1 ne 
 J^^t^ be'^n long ufed to the facrifical language, and were wel 
 /cTainted with the feveral circumftances of that way of worlh.p 
 'dLlfo certain, as ABp. ri//.cA«» obferves (Vol. I Serm. xlvijol.) 
 that • an apprehenfion and perfuafion had very early and univerfally 
 obtained among mankind, concerning the expiation of «". and ^p- 
 peafine the offended Deity, by facrifices :' but it is not equally clear, 
 C tL great difpenfation (inftead of being in its own nature eve^^ 
 XZ fit. Ind independently a moil wife and good meafUre) was 
 framed n fuch a manner purely in .o«Jefcc«fio„ to, and "'"P'"";"Tt 
 Aat pre-eftabliihed notion; fince the fame author allows thefe to 
 Tave been 'only types and ihadows of the true expiatory facnfice 
 IV cA II D 120.) And there feems to be no lefs difhculty in ac- 
 Sng ForMfisVame ufage among the 5;-, and God Ah^^^^^^^ 
 cither poflefling mankind with this principle, or P^'^"}^^^^"^ f^^^ 
 ^be(?perruaded; (ib. Vol.1, p. 480O if Jt was not in order to a 
 Zter cLnant, an higher and more ^^^^leinftitution fixed in the 
 divine decrees before die other took place m the world. Vid. Con^ 
 
 ^'%t:::':Z -J A rome ideas common to them both, or elfe 
 the one could be no kind of introduaion to the other ; but to iden- 
 tifv thefe two, or eo backward in accommodating the latter to the 
 former, the more perfed inftitution tathe lef., feems not a very na- 
 Sfuppofition ; granting the firft to be any divine inlhtution at 
 Xof whkh bef^re^ ConJideraUons, p. 52. note.. And to attempt a 
 fo ution by admitting both fchemes, -vi^. that this mftitution of fa- 
 cr^fice mav have been originally divine ; (as the fame author does, 
 o A78 ) looking foward to the great atonement, and leading man^ 
 Tind to an apprlhenfion of it ; a1 the fame time allo>^ing that atone^ 
 ^ent itfelf to Lve a retrofpeft to fuch apprehenfion, and to be really 
 
 Life and Charaaer of CHRIS "T. 285 
 
 complifhed s nor were they to be let into his real 
 aim, but by flow fleps, and after a long feries of 
 
 gentle 
 
 grounded thereon ; feems to be arguing in a circle, and leaving the 
 whole without any proper ground at all. Nor, laftly, is the facnfice 
 of the death of Chrift, to be refolved into a mere popular phrafe,* as 
 when one perfon is vulgarly faid to be facrificed to another's in- 
 tereft, and the like. Nor can thofe numerous texts which are com- 
 monly produced on this occafion, and feem to denote fomething 
 'uicariousy be eafily explained in any other fenfe ; though much in- 
 deed has been done this way by very honeft, and able writers. And 
 on fecond thoughts, I am led to imagine, that much more may yet 
 be done : that when we come to a more perfed underftanding of the 
 fcripture-language, we may be able to account for all palfages upon 
 this fubjeft, which point at the particular circumftance of pouring 
 out the blood in facrifice, as intended only to illuftrate fo much of 
 that exalted adl of Chrift, whereby he offered himfelf to certain 
 death, in the difcharge of his miniftry; a miniftry, undertaken out 
 of the moft intenfe love to mankind ; and executed with the greatell 
 patience, conftancy, and refolution ; for their recovery from the do- 
 minion of their evil habits, and of thofe evil Beings which feduced 
 them ; in order to convince them, how much he had that recovery 
 at heart ; and of what infinite confequence it was to them ; who had 
 all, like loft peep, gone aftray, and expofed themfelves to fuch eminent 
 danger of perdition, that nothing lefs could have faved them from 
 it, than the perfevering care oi t\i2it gocd Shepherd. ^\io <will not league 
 hi i flock y 'when the nxolf comet h ; but faithfully perfifts in guarding and 
 defending them, even at the expence of his own life. Under this idea 
 is the death of Chrift propofed to us by St. John for our imitation, 
 as an inftance of the moft confummate virtue, i. yoh» iii.i6. Hereby 
 percei've ive the lo<ve of God, becauje he laid do'wn his life for us ; and ^we 
 ought to lay do^ivn our li-ves for the Brethren. This is the very image, 
 under which he himfelf hath fet forth this tranfadlion to us: (Vid. 
 infra p. ) which though it were no proper facrifice, in the grois 
 fenfe of the word ; yet confidering the circumftances under which, 
 and the intent with which, this olFering was made; it anfwered all 
 the ends, and attained the benefits of every kind of facrifice ; *vix. 
 the preferving, or rcftoring a perfeft union between man and his 
 Maker: [fee Sykes on Heb.Vii. 27. Benfon, Life of Chrift, p. 445.] and 
 thence became a more fignal inftance of that progrefs and improve- 
 ment, carried on among the divine difpenlations, which we are 
 maintaining, than if it had been wholly of the fame kind with the 
 former inftitutions ; and nothing more than a piacular vidim ; fup- 
 pofing any fuch to have ever been admitted fv r grofs violations of 
 a moral law. See Sykes Script. Doftr. of Red. p. 328, &c. or Richie & 
 Peculiar Doftrines of Revelation, p. 221, &c. I would then hzvQ all 
 that Chrift did and fufFered, taken into the general plan of our re- 
 demption ; and all parts of it underftood in fuch a manner, as to 
 have the fame tendency, toward the reformation and melioration of 
 
 man- 
 
286 ReJJcftions on the 
 
 gentle difcipline. Such perfons were in many rc- 
 fneas moft difficult to be dealt with ; but no unfit 
 inftruments for that, which they were then de- 
 fiened for. namely, to teftify what they had fo 
 often feen and heard j and on all accounts moft 
 proper to afford the beft, moft unexceptionable 
 evidence to futurity : fuch as could by no means 
 be fuppofed capable of themfelves either to con- 
 
 ..„«na , to be ^^:^:^;fs^:^lis^, 
 
 ment ; m its ov/n nature exquiut.vcn c [ mecha- 
 
 to excite ana encourage us o -- - ;-/ .^^^^'i^g ,he ads and 
 nkally working it out for us , °'^^[°'""'V. ^^i round of 
 
 .UainLnts t^clF^rSv be wtn'ther o^ r^cL^ fuch as 
 refemDlance, or contormuy ucl without ever reaching, or 
 
 have been at enrnuy againft ^^^^^^^^^^ J He 
 
 Te^figt rfciju^arnotions. are oftin moll unhappily mixed 
 
 with the prefent fubjeO. .<•,„;-_ Uqw nearly this mediato- 
 
 I (hall difmifs the pom with °X '^f ' ^"^j^e d vine orconomy, 
 
 rial office, fcems to re.emble f^^^^X beinSharged by one 
 
 both in refpea of "canoufnefs and of its bemg d^ g ?^ ^^^ 
 
 of the fame nature *>'\°»f^^^,^"; JS^o ^ake ufe of fubordi- 
 general government of the ^''f .' '^;P'^f„7ro^^^^^^^ and perfeaion 
 Lte agents, whofe P^^ fu^P',"^ ;> "".^hoTave both tL/.r.,»^ 
 .may be greatly advanced b) '"<-h ag^"!^y % ^,,0 may be greatly fer- 
 ^x^idifpofrnz of each other; [p. lO. fupraj «'«> ^ / \^ Jj,„f 
 
 viceable to each other in various "-f P^f ^- ,^'^Jr^*^'i,k to the whole 
 this government, in ways moft nat"^ a'ld ag^ca^e t .^ 
 
 progenitors : ^r when iuch privn g interceffion of forae 
 
 nalties incurred, upon the interpoimon, i^,iieees again, re- 
 
 fuch eminently «°"»'y f ^?" '°/f.*°'! *^^^^ like 
 
 niit the punilhment, and ^""«^^^, J, ^P^^^^ '"^e^eft and moft im- 
 
 Panta»otf=n^^ 
 -rt^Sern^of^'m^rc^m'e^^'wnt:^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ^^rP^:. place ^z^it^^^^^^ 
 
 raife and condua us to it, to remo^t r ^^^Benfm, 
 
 our 
 X 
 
 Ife of Chrfft. c.fu fea.i. and Duchal Scrm, 8. \ oi. z. 
 
 % 
 
 Life and Charaaer of CHRIS X- 287 
 
 ceive a fcheme fo great as that of reforming a 
 world; of altering all its cuftoms and opinions j 
 or entertain the leaft hope of accomplifhing it, 
 whenever fuggefted to them : fuch as wanted both 
 courage and conduct to attempt this vaft, and 
 truly original defign, with any profpe6l of fuccefs : 
 fuch laftly, as he muft fufFer often to doubt, and 
 difpute with him; to diftruft, defert, and even 
 deny him : to convince after-ages, that they were 
 fuch as could not with the leaft fhew of reafon, 
 be fufpe6led of having at firft concerted all this 
 of themfelves 5 or carried it on afterwards among 
 themfelves ; or effefted what they did of it, by any 
 method merely human*. 
 
 With fuch as thefe did Cbrijl hold converfation, 
 during the whole courfe of his miniftry ; affec- 
 tionately complying with their weaknefs, patient- 
 ly enduring their perverfenefs, in order to cure 
 them both j to ftrengthen and increafe their faith 
 by degrees, and free them from all fuperftitious 
 fears ; to open their eyes, and enlarge their un- 
 derftandings fo far, that at length they mighty 
 even of themfelves y Judge what was right , and teach 
 the fame to others. To thefe, and by them to the 
 world, he fets a perfed pattern of true heroifm, 
 viz. humility, and refignation to the will of God ; 
 
 of 
 
 * Minim eft, quam paritm acuti ^flent apoftolorum nonnulli : Ced 
 data opera tales a Chriftoeledos fuifle verifi mile eft ; nedumputa- 
 bant fc intelligere quis eflet, quidve moliretur, quidpiam ingenia 
 •fuo freti, q»aod Evangelio noceret, aggrederentur ; nere p©flcnt 
 dogmatum, quae nunciabantur, inv^entores haberi. Cleric, in Jch, 
 xrv. 7. Comp. Id. Eccl. Hift. Ann. xxvii. 14, 15. How different is 
 the charafter of St. Paul! and with what propriety therefore was his 
 call deferred, till different qualities and talents became of equal ufe?. 
 to the propagation and defence of the gofpel ! 
 
288 ' Reflet torn on the 
 
 of meekiiefs, and the moft extenfive benevolence 
 to man; demonftrating to what height virtue 
 may be carried, under the moft difadvantageous 
 circumftances ; and (hewing the pradicablerefs 
 of each part of our duty, in the greateft difficul- 
 ties. With the utmoft zeal and conftancy, does 
 he endeavour to difluade, and drive men from 
 their ruin ; and in the moft endearing manner, 
 ftrive to draw, and win them over to their true 
 intereft and happinefs ; and raife their minds 
 above the little interefts of this world. Little 
 children^ yet a little while I am with you, — but 
 let not your hearts be troubled; I go to prepare a 
 place for you. Te are not of the world, even as lam 
 not of the world. In the world ye fl:all have tribu- 
 lation ; but he of good cheer, I have overcome the 
 
 world*. 
 
 Having denied himfelf the comforts and en- 
 joyments of this world, in the fame caufe for 
 which he left the glories of the other, and at 
 length laid down his life in executing that 
 fcheme for which he firft affumed it; he does not 
 
 even 
 
 • For a fpecimen of that inimitable tendermfs and intenfe devotion, 
 which madefo diftinguifhine a part of our bleffed Saviour's charac- 
 ter and which contributed (o greatly to the comfort and fupport of 
 his difciples under all their trials ; 1 refer to thefe admirable chap- 
 ters of St. John's gofpcl, part of the thirteenth, and the four follow- 
 ine • and appeal to the experience of even the coldeft and moft care- 
 left reader, whether he can help being, in fome mcafure, Ihll affefted 
 by them ; particularly the laft. 
 
 That thefe bear the plaineft marks of h^^ng genuine, and therefore 
 furnilh a ftrong prefumptive argument for the truth of our religion, 
 fee Duchal'i Difcourfes, Serm. 4. That they contain a beautiful 
 allufion to the high-prieft's aa of atoning for himfelf, his brethren, 
 and all the people, on the great day of expiation, as prefcnbed in 
 Le'v. xvi. 6— 17, .may be feen in Benjoa'i Life of Chrift, c.i. fe«. a. 
 p. 16. andc.ii.fea. 7. p.429' 
 
 Life and Chara&er of CHRIS T. 289 
 even here quit the fame merciful defign, but 
 raifcs himfelf to revive the hopes of his defpond- 
 ing followers ; to comfort and confirm them in 
 the faith, and give them full aflbrance, that he 
 now had all power in heaven and earth. And 
 great occafion was there for fuch ground of com- 
 fort to them, who thought they had loft him 
 for whofe fake they had parted with all things 
 befide ; greater yet to reform and reftify their 
 notions of, and expeftations from him; which 
 were ftill fixed on prefent profpefts of advance- 
 ment, notwithftanding whatfoever he had taught 
 them to the contraiy f : nor could they help con- 
 cluding that he would at this time certainly 
 make ufe of all his power, in the entire deftruc- 
 tion of his and their enemies ; and the ereftine 
 of the fo long looked-for kingdom, to which 
 every other kingdom of the earth fliould bow. 
 ^ut he foon ftiews them, how far this was from 
 being any part of his office, as defcribed by the 
 prophets ; how utterly inconfiftent with his 
 whole behaviour in difcharging it : that on his 
 veiy firft entrance on it, he had rejeded and de- 
 fpifed the offer of thefe kingdoms, and their glo- 
 ry ; and that for the future, they muft think of 
 
 re- 
 
 corteft^\^"'^ ''".' '"''°P^ °^''" «''°'« Sermon on the mount was to 
 
 Sd^iffprionrth:" ''^^ ''I °'*^ ^^''^'^ khigdom^l'd 
 that this /"he'ToL /^"""^ ""•'■'''" c^nfequence thereof; and 
 
 neaion of hat S^fmo^;?.'''""^^ "!." P'°P^^ '""'"■'"S ^-^ ^on- 
 
 -cellent Paraphraro„\]et"6"^^^^^ ^f'V, '" '''^ 
 
 throughout \i difcourfe 1 L^t^.^^Xtf-f^^"''- "".1 
 things, that were thpn «„„,; '"Oject. — That it contains a| 
 
 thoff hearers to whn^rc^' ^"'* """''^^y '° ''>« i^\^ix\on of 
 
 ib. voifv s: 'op 30, ^""""^ "' "^" "•"' ^'^''■"^■^'i '"•»/■ 
 
 elf. 
 
 / 
 
2QO RejleBions on the 
 
 renouncing all their narrow national prejudices 
 of a necuUum fraught with all temporal privi- 
 leees and full of nothing but conqueft, wealth, 
 and power : that inftead of coming a MeJJiah to 
 blefs his people in their fenfe, [which would 
 have been a curfe to every other people,] by 
 diftinguilhing them from the reft of mankmd m 
 thing?, to which they had no better title, and of 
 which they were not like to make any better ufe > 
 bv not only delivering them from their fubjec- 
 tion to all other nations, but reducing every na- 
 tion into an abfolute fubjeftion to them;— that 
 he was to bring them bleflings and deliverances, 
 and raife them to a dominion of quite another 
 kind • to blefs them by turning every one of them 
 from'their iniquities ; to deliver them from their 
 fniiitual chains of darknefs, death, and mifeiy ; 
 and bring them to the light of life, and happinefs 
 in his heavenly kingdom: the way whereunto 
 they were to be the means of opening to all the 
 reft of the world, inviting mankind in general to 
 enter with them into it ; as their forefathers had 
 been the great inftruments of leading men to the 
 knowledge of that one true God, who is the giver 
 of it That as thefe his followers had all along 
 • feen ample proofs of his divine legation to this 
 '■ purpofe, and were now to be let into the nature 
 and defign of his undertaking (p), fo far as they 
 ^ were 
 
 . / M find fome perfons often complaining, tliat il»cy want to 
 knol duSa ? Wi^ this u.^erial:i., c5f our Saviour's was, what U 
 kno.v ^ "\"^ J ^j ^.^ J ^ f^i j,nd what is his rchgKn. 1 he 
 
 ^ Tmthas i"t^.;^nchea upon .bove, no.e (.) To the latter. 
 rS; an anlwer m.y be drawn troni p. ill, .U^ ot Co^uurat.n.. 
 to thb purpofe : Hf 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIS r. 291 
 v/ere able to bear a part in it themfelves ; fo they 
 fliould fhortly be inverted with fufficient powers 
 to carry it on without him, and enabled to pro- 
 claim and propagate it to the ends of the earth. 
 Having thus fpent forty days in training and 
 preparing his difciples for their future trials m 
 this great work of eftablifliing a kingdom of fo 
 
 very- 
 He came vyith full credentials from the Father, to tranfad our 
 peace and union with him ; to proclaim an entire amnt^ for paft 
 ofFences, and procure an effeftual remedy againft the dominion of any 
 future ones ; to publiOi new terms of falvation, (a new dodrine, fays 
 i.rotius, Ep. 33. rcqmnng fmcere repentance, and promifing remifton 
 of fms, and everlalling life,) and put us into a condition of tain^up 
 to them; to reftore a communication between God and us, (by ptayer 
 and Xht facraments %) to lay down fufficient rules for our behaviour 
 towards God, ourfelves, and one another; to offer the cleareft and 
 molt cogent arguments for our compliance \^:th thefe, (in the feveral 
 articles of our belief) and thereby afford us the mofl ^mph means 
 znd ^noti^es to refemble the divine nature, grow in grace, and qualify 
 ourfelves for unlimited degrees of happinefs and perfeaion. By hra 
 own example pointing out the way to this ; and by his do^rine, in 
 the firft place reforming the wrong judgments, and perverfe difpo- 
 litions of mankind in matters of religion, (of thofe more efpecially 
 among whom he lived ; vid. laft n. f.) removing the falfe principles 
 on which they grounded it; the foolifh praftices which they had in- 
 corporated with It; and in their Head fubdituting fuch important 
 duties, and direaing to the acquirement of fuch intrinfically good. 
 Virtuous habits, as would in their own natures neceffarily lead to 
 that ftate of perfeaion ; and become each an effential part thereof - 
 founding the whole upon its proper bafis, the true LOVE of GOD • 
 and joining all together in that Sond of peace, and of all virtues', 
 
 ^A .^, ,. . ^° "'^"' ^^^ fubflance therefore, ot ?naterial part o£ 
 C^r//?s religion, contains all that can pofTibly be comprehended 
 under the notion of pure religion ; whatfoe ver is really excellent and 
 ufeful in every ftation or relation of life : with all fuch helps as tend 
 to encourage and fupport us in purfuing this, and are in general 
 neceiiary to the attainment of it : it admits and includes every thing, 
 which either may conduce to the welfare of men in the prefent ftate * 
 or duly iic and difpofe them for everlafting happinefs in another: and 
 m Ihort, can be defcribed no otherwife, than is done by the two 
 apoftles, />/.// IV 8. 2 Pet. i. 4, 5, &c. Vid. Conf derail J, p. .r of 
 tSp.ofKillmores Effay on the Priejlhood, p. 6^, &c. or 7/#o^Traas - 
 who Teems to have had as pure and perfea notions of the Chriftian 
 inltitution, as any writer in his time. See zX^oLcland's fummary of 
 the Chriftian Doanne with regard to God, our neighbour, and 
 ourfelves. Advantage and Neceffitjr, &c. Vol. II. Part. li. c. 11 
 
 Tz ^ 
 
i 
 
 202 RefcBlons on the 
 
 very different a fort, and to be eftabliflied by 
 ways fo different, from what they had hitherto 
 imagined, he meets them all together; leads them 
 out to fome diftance from Jerufalem ; takes leave 
 of them with his laft benediction ; and having 
 promifed to give them yet farther proof of his 
 care and love, by fending them another Comforter^ 
 afcends before them vifibly into heaven. 
 
 Having taken a fliort view of our Saviour's 
 conduct, more particularly in private life^ and 
 run over fome of the ftcps of his humiliation \ 
 let us flop to refleft a little on the ufe and excel- 
 lence of fuch a charaBer, and obferve fome of 
 the benefits which we receive from this part of 
 his condu6t. 
 
 Whenever we turn our thoughts upon the in- 
 finite perfections of the moft high God, and try 
 to form fome fuitable apprehenfions of them; 
 though they appear well worthy of all adoration, 
 yet is our viev^^ of them but faint and dim, on 
 account of their fubliuxity and diftance from us ; 
 and what views we have of them, are apt rather 
 to excite aftonifhment and awe, than move the 
 fofter, more endearing paffions : and therefore 
 the ideas of lovi?tg and delighting in God were 
 fuch, as the moft elevated heathen writer could 
 not reach. 
 
 But here the Deity lets himfelf down to our 
 capacities^ and is on a level with our tendereft 
 affections; difcovers himfcif under the near rela- 
 tions of a friend, a father; difplays fuch an af- 
 .fcfting fcenc of the moft merciful, mild conde- 
 
 fcenfion, 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIST. 293 
 
 fcenfion, as muft ftrike even the dulleft, warm the 
 coldeft heart. 
 
 The Lord, who knows our frame, fees that 
 we are not capable of beholding him in his full 
 glory ; and therefore kindly draws a veil over it, 
 and fuits his feveral difpenfations to the fubjeCls 
 of them. He fends a meflenger in our own ftate 
 and circumftances ; who being encompaffed with 
 our infirmities, experiencing our difficulties and 
 temptations, and having a fellow-feeling of our 
 troubles ; might fhew how well qualified he was 
 to bear with us, and help us to bear them ; to 
 have compaffion on the ignorant, and thofe that 
 wei^ in error ; pointing out to us the true way, 
 and enabling us to walk therein : leading us 
 gently by the hand*, inviting and encouraging 
 us to come to God through him. lam the way, 
 the truth, and the life ; he that hath feen me, hath 
 feen the Father. All that my Father hath is mine : 
 I and my Father are one, as I and you are one. 
 I have not called you fervants, hut friends and /5;y- 
 thren. The Father himfelf loveth you:, and if ye love 
 him, as he loveth me, and I love him ; we will mani^ 
 fejt ourf elves to you y we will come unto you, and make 
 our abode with you. 
 
 Thus he, who was to his own people formerly 
 the Lord of Ho/Is, a mighty God and terrible, 
 jealous, avenging ; and whofe v^hole worftiip was 
 Aikd fear, (a worfhip well accommodated to fuch 
 people;) is now to men of more enkrged minds, 
 under this proportionably more indulgent difpen- 
 
 fation 
 
 • La^^anf. de Ver. Sap. L. iv. 24. 
 
 T3 
 
294 ReJIeEtions on the 
 
 fation, the God cf all joy ^ and confolation\ the Father 
 of mercies \ vvhofe children and heirs we arc faid 
 to be; v/hom we are taught to approach in a 
 more liberal way, with a true filial aflurance ; 
 whofe darling attribute is goodnels j and the firft 
 principle, and great commandment in his law, 
 the end and the completion of it, love, 
 
 Thefe amiable reprefentations, confirmed by 
 a long train of condefcending meeknefs, and il- 
 luftrated in the moft free, familiar manner ; muft 
 above all things tend to ftrengthen and invigo- 
 rate our faith, enliven our hope, and draw our 
 whole foul after him that fo loved us, and lived 
 amongfl us : efpecially that, which muft feem to 
 be the greatcft poffible inftance of affection for 
 us, his voluntary laying down his life, to recon- 
 cile us to him and our heavenly Father. This 
 cannot but endear his charaSlcr to all, who are 
 capable of giving attention ro it; and will, in a 
 much more near and tender manner, unite him 
 to us, and make the memory and contemplation 
 of him infinitely more affecting; than that of any 
 other Being, however great, good, and glorious, 
 who has not undergone the like office, or appear- 
 ed in fuch lights to us. 
 
 And though, in order to dire6l our reafon 
 and judgment to the principal object of religious 
 worfnip, and guard againft every mifconception 
 of our true relation thereto ; we are oft remind- 
 ed, who it was that originally provided this re- 
 demption for us ; who Jo firjl loved the world, as 
 to give his ofil^ begotten Son^ for our falvation ; and 
 
 are 
 
 I 
 
 Life and Chara^er of CHRIST. 295 
 
 are taught to refer all, ultimately, to the glory of 
 God, the Father : yet in that other, no Icfs eflen- 
 tial, (perhaps with the bulk of mankind, much 
 fuperior j part of our nature, by which religion 
 and every thing elfe takes the ftrongeft hold of 
 us, the pajjions ; we are neceflarily touched, in a 
 much more fenfible manner, with what is fo very 
 adequate and obvious to our prefent compre- 
 henfions, and as it were analogous to what we 
 feel among ourfelves ; and may be fatisfied, that 
 the kind Author of our being will make due 
 allowances for this, fo far as it is neceffary and 
 unavoidable ; which is the cafe at prefent uni- 
 verfally; and every one that refle6ts upon the 
 general turn of his own mind in his devotion, 
 will, I believe, find it fo: which is an experi- 
 mental proof of the propriety and beauty of the 
 plan in this refpe6t. 
 
 And as this difpenfatlon was well fuited to the 
 frame of human nature, and an improvement on 
 the foregoing one to the feiDS', fo was it no lefs 
 fitly accommodated to the ftate of the heathen 
 world; and no lefs neceffary in the circumftances 
 under which that then was, and muft have con- 
 tinued. 
 
 The founders and fupporters of religious infti- 
 tutes among the Gentiles, had nothing but fome 
 empty apparitions of their idle deities, or more 
 uncertain tales, and blind reports to build upon ; 
 fome of them ill devifed by themfelves, others 
 in great part copied from true fcripture-hiftory, 
 or primitive tradition ; but all fo ftrangely abufed 
 
 T 4 and 
 
2 go Reflections on the 
 
 and blended with each khid of vice and folly, 
 to comply with the general corruption of man- 
 kind, and fuit them to the feveral taftes and 
 tempers of particular countries ; as at length ren- 
 dered the whole little elfe than a compound of 
 abfurdity and immorality ; and made their very 
 worfhip and devotion impious. Their dofilrines 
 and fubfequent rites, muft, by this means, be very 
 complicated ; and vary according to the various 
 degrees of fuperftition and impurity that reigned 
 amongft them : but yet were fo far of the fame 
 caft and complexion, that there could be no 
 great room for a competition with each other, 
 in point of either truth, or excellence ; it would 
 be hard to diftinguifli between the different forts 
 of evidence and authority producible in differ- 
 ent pkces for the one ; or of the reafons that 
 might be alledged to explain, and vindicate the 
 other ; fmce cuftom was the common plea for 
 both : fmce both were equally uncertain in their 
 origin ; and both alike unprofitable as pertaining 
 to the confcience. So that when any fpecies of ido- 
 latry was once eftabllfhed in a city or nation, it 
 mull with the generality, be either a point of ne- 
 ceflity to abide by this, fmce they could find no 
 ■ better; or appear a matter of indiflerence, whether 
 they fhould exchange it for any other ; or admit 
 that other along with it, as occafion ferved : and 
 this might well be left to the determination of 
 
 the ft ate. 
 
 Such were the circumftances of the heathen 
 
 world, when Chriji appeared ; to put an end to 
 
 all 
 
 Life a?td Character ofCHRIS'T. 297 
 
 all thofe lying vaftities^ and turn men to the living 
 and true God\ by introducing a fyftem of religion 
 fuitable to fuch a Being, and which would lead 
 them to the love and likenefs of him. 
 
 Farther 3 men had been fo long ufed to the 
 notion of appearances and meffages from* Heaven, 
 and thefe been made the ground of every article 
 of faith, and mode of worfhip; that nothing but 
 a real one^ one of a fuperior kind, and better cir- 
 cumftanced ; could be conceived efFe6lual to 
 filence every wild pretence of that fort; and re- 
 duce men to a right faith, and a fuitable praftice: 
 nothing lefs would be able to lead fuch to a firm 
 belief in one true, fpiritual, invifible God ; and 
 induce them to worfhip him infpirit and in truth y 
 and affure them of always finding accefs to him, 
 through one only all-fufficient Mediator, Dry, 
 abftra6l reafoning would go but a little way with 
 the vulgar, who are moft fufceptible of impref- 
 fion ; but yet require fomething ftrong and vifi- 
 ble to ftrike them ; nor would a few tranfient 
 figns and wonders ferve to make any fuch im- 
 preflion laft. Of thefe they had too many report- 
 ed among them ; and the more common fuch re- 
 ports grew, the lefs were they minded ; not only 
 on account of their fufpicious evidence; though 
 that was enough to difcredit them; but chiefly 
 for want of conne6lion with fome regular courfe 
 of goodnefs, and a fett of doftrines worthy of 
 fuch interpofition from Heaven ; and of their 
 being expreflly produced as vouchers for thefe 
 
 doc- 
 
 

 
 
 
 2g8 RefleBiQus on the 
 
 doSlrines, and applied direflly to confirm that 
 interpofition. 
 
 This did Chrifi fully and frequently; in the 
 plaineft and moft public manner : and hereby did 
 his inftitution outfhine, and extinguifli every part 
 of heathenifm, as well in pomt of evidence af- 
 forded to it; as of inftruftion conveyed by it. 
 From whence might be drawn another proof, 
 both of the ufefulnefs of fuch a plan, and of the 
 great neceflity that there was for it. 
 
 But I proceed to fome of the remarkable cir- 
 cumftances in our Saviour's more public life, and 
 manner of teaching. 
 
 As to the former, we cannot but obferve a 
 furprifing mixture of humility and greatnefs, 
 dignity and felf-abafement, in his general de- 
 meanour; both which were equally inftru6live in 
 their turns. Sometimes we find him folemnly 
 aflerting his divinity ; at other times the meekeft 
 and the lowed of the fons of men : fome times 
 reminding his followers, that he could command 
 legions of angels, were it neceffary; at others, 
 apprifmg them, that he fhould be more deftitute 
 of common conveniences, than even the beafts 
 of the field, or birds of the air; now telling 
 them, that a greater than Solomon is amongft 
 them; now, wafhing his difciples' feet. Con- 
 fcious of his own power and juft prerogative, yet 
 all fubmiffion to the powers in being ; comply- 
 ing with their laws and inftitutions, however 
 hazardous, or inconvenient to him; and paying 
 
 their 
 
 Life and CharaSler of CHRIS "t. 299 
 
 their demands to the uttermoft, though at the 
 €xpence of a miracle. On fome occafions, pub- 
 lifhing the charafter and office which he bore ; 
 on others, carefully concealing them; in order to 
 prevent the hafty mifconftruftion of his friends ; 
 to guard againft the inveterate malice of his foes ; 
 and gain fufficient time to fix a good foundation 
 for the faith of all. None more induilrious and 
 zealous in the caufe of God ; none more indifter- 
 ent and refigned in his own : He patiently en- 
 dures the affronts and outrage to his perfon, and 
 the frequent infults on his reputation; and in- 
 tercedes for the forgivenefs of his murderers : yet 
 when his Father's honour is concerned, he vin- 
 dicates it inftantly, and with uncommon warmth; 
 he publickly chaflifes the prophaners of his tem- 
 ple; and threatens the fevereft punilhment to 
 fuch as would continue to blafpheme the power 
 and Spirit by which he was afting. He is ready 
 to receive publicans and harlots; difdains not to 
 converfe with heretics and fchifmatics; perfons 
 mofl odious and of worfl repute; but whom he 
 fees to be truly penitent, and really defirous of 
 inflruclion: while he rejects the formal, fanfti- 
 monious hypocrite; and reprimands the felf-fuf- 
 ficient Pharifee. He dcte6ls, and with authority 
 rebukes, the flattery of the proud, defigning que- 
 rifl; but fatisfies each fcruple, and refolves each 
 doubt, of the fincere and humble fearcher after 
 truth, even before they can be intimated to him. 
 He cheriflies the broken-hearted ; comforts the 
 defponding; flrengthens and fupports the weak 
 
 and 
 
300 Refedtions on the 
 
 and wavering; condefcends to the infirmities of 
 the meaneft and moft delpicablc, that has the 
 leafl: fpark of goodnefs in him; but never grati- 
 fies the vanity, or gives way to the petulancy of 
 the greateft. Vice from him meets with due dif- 
 couragement and juft reproof in all men, even 
 thofe of the higheft ftation ; virtue with kind 
 compaflion, and a generous aid, in any of the 
 loweft. 
 
 For, Secondly; This mixture of fo various, 
 and feemingly oppofite qualities, which confti- 
 tuted the foregoing contraft, did not proceed 
 from any variation in his temper; but wholly in 
 that of thofe among whom he converfed. He 
 fteadily adheres to the fame principle, and con- 
 ftantly purfues one plain and uniform defign, of 
 doing all the fervice poffible, on all occafions, to 
 all forts of people: of doing it in the moft agree- 
 able manner too, whenever that becomes con- 
 fiftent with their real intereft: fympathizing with 
 men in their feveral ftates and difpofitions ; fuit- 
 ing himfclf to every one's circumftances, and ca- 
 pacity; applying to each part of the human con- 
 ftitution for accefs; and watching every motion 
 of the heart to gain admittance : being himfelf 
 ever affable, and eafy of accefs to all that feriouf- 
 ly applyed to him; accepting any invitation, and 
 admitting every well-meant inftance of refpeft ; 
 nay, making a voluntary offer of his company, 
 whenever he knew it would be ufeful and accept- 
 able: indulging the moft fecret wifli of fuch as 
 would receive an obligation from hiip ; and en- 
 hancing 
 
 Life and CharaBer of C HRIS 7*. 301 
 
 hancing that by his obliging readinefs to confer 
 it. ' He fubmitted to the loweft offices for the 
 fake of others, and was at every body's femce 
 that defired his affiftance. He condefcended to 
 the meaneft company, when he had a profpeiSl 
 of doing any good upon them ; and was content 
 to lofe the reputation of being a good man, that 
 he might more effe6lually ferve the ends of piety 
 and goodnefs *.* 
 
 His converfation was free, and familiar; open, 
 and undifguifed ; fober and rational : his carriage 
 clear from all affefted fingularity ; all rigid and 
 unnatural feverity ; and any of thofe auftere, for- 
 bidding airs, which ufed to be put on by others; 
 and were apt'to procure them fo much reverence, 
 and awe, upon the like occafion. His very mira- 
 culous works, were no lefs evident figns of mer- 
 cy, goodnefs, generofity; than of power: and 
 equally adapted to convince men's underftandings, 
 and engage their afteftions ; as to remove their 
 maladies, or to relieve their wants: his firft pub- 
 lic miracle being no more than a proper aft of 
 kindnefs, or humanity; in preventing the confu- 
 fion of a poor relation, by a very feafonable fup- 
 ply of what was wanting in his entertainment; 
 which want perhaps could not have otherwife been 
 conveniently fupplied ; and was moft probably 
 occafioned by the extraordinary concourfe he 
 himfelf drew thither (a-) : his laft being no lefs 
 
 than 
 
 * Lo'Zv^//s Dired^ions, p. 197. 
 
 (^) joh/i 11. If 2, &c. Notwithftanding ail thefe evident marks 
 of goodnefs in this miracle of our blelTed Saviour, bcfide many others 
 
 that 
 
^o2 RefleSlions on the 
 
 than an ihftanceof thehigheftand moft undeferved 
 
 com- 
 
 that might have been mentioned ; (fuch as his giving countenance 
 to a due celebration of that Inftitiition which foon afterwards grew 
 into fo much difrepute, and juftifying that liberal ufe of all God's 
 creatures which came to be fo extravagantly cenfured, fee Jortin^s 
 Remarks, Vol. II. p. i8. or Theol. Repof. Vol. III. No. 3.) yet it 
 has met with no lefs bitter and unreafonable treatment, than any 
 other circumftance attending either his divine charafter or miffion ; 
 even from fuch as profefs the highefl veneration for the former, and 
 feem willing to do juftice to it upon fome occafions. Chubb has been 
 at the unneceflary pains to revive fome of Woolflon*s idle objections 
 on this head, without either making any improvements on them, or 
 taking the leaft notice of the large and clear anfwers given to them ; 
 as is tke common cafe with this kind of writers. He dwells upon 
 the harjhne/s, impropriety, and fallacioufnefi of Chrifth reply to his 
 mother; and urges the ititemptrance, which muft needs have been 
 promoted by this miraculous production of wine, Poji. Worksy Vol. 
 11. p. 185-6-7-8. 
 
 As to the harjhnefsj which arifes chiefly froni the word, nvman, m 
 our language ; he has been Ihewn, that >y»» is a term ufed by the 
 beft writers very confidently with the higheft refpeCt ; and as fuch, 
 moft undoubtedly applied elfewhere to the fame perfon ; Job. xix. 
 26. That the phrafe r% e/xoi xa» <toi, was no more than a common 
 expreflion of fome gentle rebuke for intermeddling in another's pro- 
 vince; 2 Sam. xvi. 10. xix. 22. 2 Kings iii. 13.2 Chron. xxxv. 21. 
 and might be exceedingly proper^ and even neceffary at Chriji's firft 
 opening his commiflion, in order to guard againft any fufpicion of 
 his mother's having concerted matters 'with him\ (as the fame author 
 would infmoate, p. 18^6.) to prevent her interfering at all in it, or 
 pretending to any influerxe or authoritative direction, in the cafe of 
 working miracles efpecially ; which was of public concern : and fo 
 the following words may be taken interrogatively, bTr*; *}xe» r> u^a p-a ; 
 Is not the time ofmsmimjirynowu come? To which we may add, that what- 
 ever apparent flight or feverity occurs in this or any other circum- 
 ftance where flie is introduced, it may have been ordered providen- 
 tially, or by divine forefight; (as the fame thing feems to have been 
 done on the like account in other cafes, v. g. that of St. Peter mtixc 
 remarkably;) to guard againft thofe many grofs abufesof her name 
 and intereil, tho£ very grievous corruptions that in after-times were 
 fet up in the church of ChriJ^, and fupported chiefly by that near 
 relation which flie bore to him according tothe fiefli. To the fame 
 purpofe may be applied thofe other feemingly difparaging account?, 
 which he ispleafed to give of fuch relations, in comparilon of thole 
 Who flood related to him in a much higher fenfe, 'viz, a heavenly 
 one; M/?//. xii. 46-50. A/ar. iii. 31-35. ir/^. viii. 19-21. xi. 27, 
 z8. fee darkens xvii Sermons, p. 236. [and on the fame principle 
 might be founded that remarkable eflrangement between John the 
 Baptift and our blefled Saviour, notwithftanding their being fo very 
 6 near 
 
 ii 
 
 Life and Chara5ler ofC HRIS 7*. 303 
 
 compaflion, in calmly healing the wound of one 
 
 of 
 
 near relations ; as is obferved by Doddridge on Job, i. 31. Fam. Ex. 
 Vol. I. p. 122. not.c. kA^Jortin^ Difc. v. p. 194. 2d Ed. and Dr. 
 Bell\ Enquiry.] As to his hour not being come^ if taken in another 
 fenfe, i. e. of doing any thing for her benefit in particular; that may 
 relate to the hour of his death ; agreeably to the common ufe of this 
 word in theGofpel, {tomi^.Joh, vii. 8, 30. viii, 20. xii. 27. xiii.i. 
 xvii, I, Jn like manner at the very beginning o£ Chriji^s miniftry, 
 the Devil is faid to depart from him for a feafon, Luk, iv. 1 3. though 
 that was fo late as till his laft fufi'ering, called their hour, i. e. that 
 of his enemies, and the power of darknefs. Luk, xxii. 53.) for which, 
 to prevent all fecular views, he thought good to prepare her at the 
 very entrance on his office; fignifying that ftie was to receive no kind 
 of worldly advantage from it till he left the world ; and when that 
 time came, he recommended her accordingly to his beloved difciple; 
 who took her to his own home, and provided for her as if flie were his 
 own mother. So far was ChriJ^^s reply from any of tYizt fallacy and 
 contradidion in every vie-zv, with which this author has been pleafed 
 to charge it; that even on this imperfed view of the cafe, we may 
 be able to difcern clear tokens of the fame divine wifdom and diiin- 
 terefted goodnefs here, which ftiines out in each of his difcourfes. 
 
 Nor is there any more ground for that other fuggeftion of exce/s^ 
 from the guejls halving drunk fo 'very freely as to exhaufi plenty of^wine^ 
 ib. p. 188. flnce from the known regulations at all marriage-feafts, 
 there was no danger of it; from the low circumftances of the per- 
 fon entertaining here, no great room to apprehend that any extraor- 
 dinary jplenty was provided; but rather the contrary : nor from what 
 Chrift fupplied, the leaft encouragement given to intemperance, du- 
 ring the remainder of the feaft, which lafted feveral days ; common- 
 ly feven: and wherein, if we will fuppofe that this wine muft have 
 been all drunk up, which we have no occafion to do; [{qc Jennings^ 
 Left. B. iii. c. 2. p. 136.] as much might eafily have been confumed 
 by an extraordinary conflux of the people in a few days, as would 
 perhaps have otherwife held out the reft f. So little reafon was 
 there any way for fuch rude infults on this part of our blefled Sa- 
 viour's hiftory; that it might eafily be fliewn to be of a piece, and 
 bear the very fame charadlers of wifdom and goodnefs with the reft. 
 That as the Gofpel was firft to be offered to his own countrymen, 
 {to whom the promifes were made) whether they would hear, or 
 whether they would forbear; and whofe rejecting of it turned to 
 
 the 
 
 f Joh. ii. 3. Et deficient e <vino, dicit mater Jefu ad eum, Vinum non 
 habent, Non id minim eft, jam enim a tribus diebus potabatur; et ad- 
 venientc Jefu cum phiribiis difcipulis, numerus convivarum ultra ex- 
 pedatum fuerat auftus: Idco Maria Jefum, cujus comitatus alioquin 
 oneraflet novum fponfiim, admonet poteftatis fuje, quafi dicat, Deficit 
 vmum; tu ergo illiid procura, etenim potcs: huic inopiae fuccurrc. 
 Laviy, Com. in Harm. p. 109. 
 
r 
 
 •a 
 'i 
 
 ^P . ReffSiions on the 
 
 tte more immediate benefit of the reft of the world j fo was this 
 InMTr occaLn very properly made ufe of for the opening of it, iH 
 ?he firft p a e to h?s ^kin^fol'k and acquaintance ; who. if they were 
 not befor'^ acquainted with his divine miflion from any miracles per- 
 ? J In nrivate fthoueh it is probable they were ; fee D«iJr. on 
 formed .n private [though t P . ^^^ fully can vaffing its 
 
 Se ce^aia confulting^im upoVit. during all the feftivaU might 
 !Ifilv have fatisfied each other about the truth of his pretenfions, and 
 ^nSt ed themfdves to the honour of being his firft diiciples : though 
 for no lefs wile and good reafons, they were njpft of them pe. mined 
 tolofe al f.ch opportunities of being inftrufted by h.m to Ihut 
 heir eyes and harden their hearts amidtt the cleareft and the ftrongeft 
 Ividence Ld at length become of all men the moft invetera e both 
 reairfthim and his^loarine: which yet, inftead of impairing the 
 cfedit of eTther, ferved to illuftrate it the more, and render it more 
 inco tcftab le to others in all ages; by clearing the whole from all 
 poffible fufpicion of any family-contrivance ; of being carr^d on 
 Ev pr vate compaa ; (as the fame condua in the rulers did efFeaually 
 fr^om the cha^^e of ts being any part of their own national policy ;) 
 orTavingbecn calculated for the feparate intereft of any particular 
 placeror party of n.en whatfoever. Nay. every one ot thefe per- 
 ?ons who efther rejeaed him at firft, or afterwards forfookh.m with- 
 out ever being able to difcover the leaft circumftance of fuch a de- 
 Sraffordsa'plainproof of the contrary; as might be made appear 
 beyond all contradiction. . r.i,«:.,j^ 
 
 But thus much may ferve at prefent for a fpecimen of the judg- 
 irent andfa^acityof fomeof the greateft heroes in the caufe of mo- 
 dTn inSy ; who, upon felcding out of the Gofpels two or three 
 Sages of thi Tind and fettin^ tfem off with a little banter, [yid. 
 Tha^aLflics, Vol. III. p. 123.1 grounded chjefly «" their own ig- 
 norance or inadvertency ; imagine they have difcovered fey eral blot 
 and blemifhes, where they ought to have been admiring fo many 
 beauties; plume themfclves on their fingular penetration ; and im- 
 mXtely Conclude, that they ha.e overthrown the whole fabric of 
 
 ^^^Cn';S^ IHiall taketheliberty of offering a few general 
 
 hints to the admirers of a late diftinguifhed writer ot this rank, the 
 celebrated Mr. Chubb: who, notwithftanding a tolerably clear head 
 and ftrong natural parts ; yet by ever aiming at things far beyond 
 his reach? bv attempting /variety of fubjefts, for which his narrow 
 c icumaances, and fmall compafs of reading and knowledge had in 
 a're^t mealure difqualificd him ; from a fafhionable, but /ail ac 10 us 
 kird of philofophv, (with which he fet out, and by which one of 
 his educa^tion mi^ht very eafily be milled,) h. fell by degrees to fuch 
 confufion in divinity, to fuch low quibblingon iome obfcure paffages 
 in our tranflation oV ihe Bible, and was reduced to fuch wretched 
 c'vils as to fevcral hillorical fafts and circumilances wherein a 
 fT^-^ll fVill either in the languages, or fciences, might have fct him 
 r\Xi • cr a fmall Ihare of real modeily would have fupplied the want 
 ^f th'em, bv puttinf^ him upon confulting thofe who could, and 
 toul have o^vcn him proper affillance; - that he fecms to have 
 
 Life and Chara51er of CHRIST. 305 
 
 fallen at laft into an almofl univerfal fcepticifm; and quitting tha^ 
 former ferious and fedate fobri«Lty, which gave him cfedit; contents 
 himfelf with carrying on a mere farce for fome time; ads the part 
 of a foiemn, grave, buffoon; fnccrs at all things he does not under- 
 hand; and after all his fair profefTioas, and the ca'vtat he has en- 
 tered againft fuch a charge, mull u.i:.voidably be fct down in the 
 Jeat of the /corner. 
 
 Hard then muil be the lot of all thofe, who think thcmfelves 
 obliged to vindicate the Gofpel againft fuch a writer! if they are 
 not only to make out all things plain before his face, but muft alfo 
 tind him eyes to fee, and an heart to apply honeftly what he does 
 fee : ~ who is ever crying out for convidion, yet never feems to know 
 when he ought to be convinced : — is juft able to ftart difHculties, 
 and perplex himfelf ;^but neither can judge of the anfwers to them) 
 nor will believe fuch as are capable of judging: — Jf fuch people 
 will diTputc every day de ormii jcihili; ~~if they will inftantly deter-* 
 mine every point of ancient hiftorv, who neither are acquainted 
 \yuh the language, culloms, circumlUnces, or fitu^tion of things, 
 times, and pcrfons,— nor will be taught by fuch as are :— who form 
 objeaions againft facred writ, which hold equally againft every other 
 v.riting in the world, — and yet have not been able to af?:gn any 
 better method of conveyance than by writing; — who deny the fame 
 equitable allowance to thefe, that they do, and muft, make to all 
 other ancient writings; — will adhere clofely to the literal fenfe, 
 wlienever it can be fkrewed up to their purpofe, though they know)- 
 no hiftorical books in the world will bear it; — and when juft an* 
 Iwers, and the moft probable folutions have been often given with 
 candour, and may be feen in almoft every comment, are above look- 
 ing into any of them; but rather content themielvcs with r- jjcating 
 the fame cavils over and over again, — making their number ftand 
 for weight, — and that very repetition ferve for a proof that they 
 had no reafonable reply: —'what is this but a prejudice againft re- 
 velation, greater and much more unfair, than that which they would 
 fix upon the generality of its vindicators? who, inftead of having 
 recourfe to violence in fupport of whatever fupports them, (as the 
 fame author has fo oft infinaated) arc always read^ to giue an a??JhMer 
 to every one, that ajheth them a rca/on of the hope thit is in them\ and 
 who are at leaft equally concerned, v/ith the infidels, to fee tha't this ' 
 hope be well grounded : fince, by their avowed principles they place 
 It beyond this life, whatever a/^ct/ do ; and might fupport them- 
 icXvt^ here under any other inilitution, founded upon different prin- 
 ciples, were that ellabliftied; toward which they might aif^ exert 
 their utmoft endeavours with the fame, and perhaps gi^attr worldly 
 advantage (were they determined by fuch motives,) than they now 
 have to aa upon the oppofite fcheinc': h^ for their continual labours, 
 therefore, to reduce this to the original ftaiKlard, and adhere to that 
 as nearly as poffible; wherein many of them arc inclined to run the 
 greateft temporal hazards; ^ for their reforming it at iirft front 
 popery, which oftered, and ftill others, the greateft baits of eafe and 
 opulence, of pomp and power; and their conftant endeavours to 
 remove the fame corruptions//// farther from them, though attend- 
 
 C ed 
 
.q5 ' RcficBions on the . 
 
 of thofc who cams with eagernefs * to take away 
 liis life; and thereby fhewing, that with the fame 
 cafe he could have delivered himfelf, or deftroyed 
 
 them. , n ■ 
 
 The like might be obfcrved in almoft every 
 
 other cafe, where he exerted an extraordinary 
 power; which he did, in a manner that more par- 
 ticularly fuited his own charafter f. 
 
 But what we arc now confidering in the life 
 of Chriji, is its more ordinary courfe, and com- 
 mon tenor; which we find chiefly converfant in 
 focid Duties, as thcfc come into ufe moft fre- 
 quently, and are of the grcatefl and moft general 
 benefit to mankind ; and fetting us a pattern of 
 performing thefe, which was the moft inviting to 
 us, and moft imitable by us ; and the leaft capa- 
 ble of ever being miftaken, or perverted-, a pat- 
 tern, not only of perfed innocence, but ufetul- 
 nefs, in every circumftance, and fituation ; of join- 
 ing fometimes in fuch relaxations both of mind 
 
 and 
 
 ed with the fame allurements: this, one would think, could be ac- 
 counted for no othcrwife, than from a llrong conv.a.on in thefe men 
 of its internal excellence and truth, and the.r own indilpenfable du^y 
 to promote and propagate it, a: it is ,n ufelf- for the common good : 
 •tFs ranee, if none of them can be found equally zealou. and fm- 
 cere n tlifs point, as their advcrfaries are in oppof.t.on to it 
 
 A mo e particular account of Cbuhb and his works may be ften 
 •Jle]and'Sie..ofDcifticalWnUrs, Lett. xii. and xui. Comp.rW. 
 i?f/^/ Vol. III. No. 3. 
 
 • < Malrl-us had con; out. with vi. lence, to apprdicnd him ; and 
 had perhaps treated him with fomc peculiar .n(o,.ncc. fo as to pro- 
 vokS/- to cut off his ear.' B.nfon, p. 439- ^ He ,> fuppofed to be 
 oneofthofcfervantswho fmoteCW "P"" ;h<: tac. t.W.„i xv. 65.J 
 even after a miraculous power had been exerted in n.s favour. 
 
 + A proof of this, and a fpeoim-'n of the moral or <f<l^^^ 
 
 im- 
 oit 
 
 r/rl. n. Vcl. II- p. 16, .VC. 
 
 Life and character of C HR I SI'. 3 07 
 
 and body, as would tend to the comfort and 
 fupport of each; fuch prudent, moderate enjoy- 
 ment of the good things of this world, as might 
 convert them both to the prefent, and the future 
 benefit of all who partook of them : of under- 
 going all the toils and difficulties, labours and 
 diftrelies, to which we are fubjed; of bearing all 
 the evils and affliftions, the croffes and calami- 
 ties of life ', with fo much patience, conftancy, 
 and perfeverance, as would prevent our fmking 
 under them ; and at length make us 7nore thajt 
 conquer or s over them. A pattern, of particular 
 affection and efteem for friends; of general kind- 
 nefs, and good- will toward enemies; of gratitude 
 and love for all good OiHces ; of meeknefs and a 
 moft forgiving temper under any ill ufage; of 
 ftricl obedience to fuperiors, either in church or 
 ftate, fo far as is confiftent with our duty to the 
 fupreme Being (t) ; mildnefs and ccndefcenfion 
 
 to 
 
 (t) In proof of this, befide the inftance given in note (tt) of his 
 moll fcrupulous exadnefs to avoid the lead appearance of intruding 
 on another's otiice ; we may obferve, that when he is obliged to ex- 
 pofe the great hypocrify and villainy of the jf-jci/h do<^ors, who were 
 the moft injurious advcrfaries of his caufe, he carefully diftinguifhes 
 between tlieir authority or commilTion, and the exercifc thereof; 
 between their publick teaching, and their pradlice. 
 
 The Scribes and i be Pbarifeisfit in yio{Q%^sfeat ; all they-efore nuhatfoeuer 
 they bid you ohfer^Vi'y that ohfcwe and do ; but do not ye after their ijjorks ; 
 for they /ay, and do not. Matt, xxiii. 2, 3. * The Jiivijh do£lors and 
 Pharifees, though they be hypocrites, and covetous, and vain-glori- 
 ous men, yet fince they fucceed Mojes and the prophets, in being 
 teachers and expounders of the law of God; ye ought to hearken 
 and attend to their teaching. What therefore they teach you, cut of 
 the la-w of God y and ugneable to it, that hear ye and obey; but imi- 
 tate not their exa-nples; becaufe their lives are difa^reeable and 
 contrary to their dodrine.' Clarke's Paraphr. Hoc dicit Chriftus, 
 EC putaretur aut adverfarius effe Mojis, aut eorum odio, aut cupidi- 
 tate pnncipatus, ipfos in fequentibus reprehendere. Et quoniam 
 
 U a dffedtus 
 
Qg RefeSiions on the 
 
 to inferiors, in whatfoever refpea, or whatfoever 
 decree; of juftice, fidelity, benevolence, and cha- 
 rity to all. In ftiort, his whole life was a kaure 
 of true praaical philofophy, and each part of it 
 pointed out fome virtue proper for cur imitation*.. 
 Which brings mc in the next place, to his 
 manner of teachhg f : and this was hkewifc the 
 moft eafy and natural that could be imagined. Ke 
 generally draws his doarine from the prefent cc- 
 cafion; the converfation that is pafrnig; or the 
 objeas that furround him -, from tlie molt- com- 
 mon occurrences, and occupations: from the 
 time of the dayj the feafon of the year; the fer- 
 
 vice 
 
 dcfeaus in perfonis, non profcffione, crat; prcvidct, xU, perfonarum 
 ratione polthabita. muneri. minifterio, et prcfeffiom >pf.. fua chgni- 
 tas inteera maneat. L. Brugmf. in loc. Comp. lfchog,«, p. 37°- 
 
 So far is^ur Saviour's hittory from confining of that angry oppo- 
 fuion tohis fuperiors, as fuch; or from aifcovenng that env.ous. 
 SneVfeaious difpofition, which feme perlons have hr.d either the 
 VSk or the wicLdnefs to fuggeft. To thefe would recom- 
 mend the follo^ving tcflimony ot one, who fccnis to ha^e been at 
 that time a more equitable unbeliever. 
 
 . In ChriJ} we have an example of a qu.et and peaceaD e fp.rit of 
 abecominsr modefty and fobriety : juft and honell, upright and fiii- 
 cere 3bove all, of a moft gracious and benevolent temper and 
 behaVloui One who did no wr^ng, no injury to any man ;m wOio e 
 mouth was no euile; who went about doing good, not only by liis 
 pr°a hingandiiniliry; but alfo 5" curing all manner od.feafe, 
 fmone the people. His life was a beautiful piaure of human na- 
 ture, IhenL its native purity and Cmplicity ; and (h-i-cd at once 
 wha excellent creatures men >vot.ld be when under the infli^nce 
 and power of that Gofpcl he preached unto them. Chubb, True 
 Gofp. of y. Chrijl, fea. 8. p. 55, 56. 
 
 • See fome Qf the principal of thefe virtues fpecifoJ in Bp. /'»'«- 
 /^'sPefignofChriiUanity.c.;. ox D.chul, onChrUr. general Cha- 
 
 rader, Serm. i. 
 
 + Coricernmir our Savloiir^s eharafkr, a.^ a teacher of moralhy ; 
 or tl^e rS^^^^^ l^is cloarine, under the general heads oHmcenty, 
 imcgrity, and the love of God and man ; fee Dudch Srrm. n, in. 
 
 Life mid Chamber of CHRIS T. 309 
 
 vice of tlie Jcwijh fynagogue (u), or their folemni- 
 
 ties J 
 
 (v) Thus, he alludes fometimes to the maimer of teaching there; 
 Mutt. X. 27. 1^0^ 2 » aiire auditis^ praedicate. Dodor, qui auditorl- 
 >bus aliquid traditionale pr^elegebat et exponebat, non quideni clara 
 voce rem cfFcrebat ; fed leni fufurro, Hebraica, in aurem interpretis 
 Jnuffitabat; qui deinde id fonore fcrmone vernaculo enuntiabat po- 
 .pulo. La7ny, Harm. p. 1S7. Comp. Lightf, in loc. et in Matt. iv. 
 23. [Where another allufion occurs in the latter part of the verfe, 
 about proclaiming on the houfe top. Lightf. Vol. II. p. 180.] Some- 
 time to the kjp>n read therein : Luke iv. 17. Vulgo fentiunt inter- 
 pretes cafu traditum Domino li brum T/ii/^^^; five potius divina pro- 
 videntia procurante ut ille traderetur, ubi clariffime de Chrifto pro- 
 phetatum erat. Verum magis eluxit divina providentia fi hoc Sab- 
 bato legerctur pars ilia Ifaiae, in qua invenit locum ubi fcriptum erat, 
 Splritus Domini fuper tne : Sic incipit cap. Ixi. Ifaiae^c^uod legebatur 
 Sabbato imo aut 2do Menfis Tifri, ut viderc eft in kaionariis Ju- 
 djjorum. [Comp. Lightf in loc. or Wait's Gofp. Hift. B. ii. f. 5.] 
 Hoc autem anno vita; ejus circa quern ha^remus, aer32 Chriftianjc 
 3 1 mo, duo ilia Sabbata, in quibus Ifaias praslegebatur, incidebant 
 imum in 8vam diem Septembris, alterum in ig^mam. Congruit 
 ijlud tempus parabo is fementis, quas modo propofuerat Dominus 
 ab ipfis lebus prx-fentibus, ut fapienriam ejus decebat. Etenim in 
 menfe Tifri femen terr^ mandabatur; ut videre eft in illis verbis 
 paraphrafeos Chaldaicx in Ecclefiaftem xi. 2. Da portionem bonam 
 fe minis agro tuo in Tifri y et 7ie cohibcaris a feminando etiam in Chifeu. Id. 
 Harm. p. 258. To which may be added John x. i, &c. as below, 
 note f. p. 314. and John vii. 37, 38. note Jj. p. 316. Lamy purfues 
 this circumftance oi Chrif's alluding to the /efon for the day fo far, 
 as by it to adjuit the time and order of feverai paffages in the Gof- 
 .pels, V. g. Lu.^e x. 25-37. Idcirco autem hanc parabolam Samaria 
 tani refero ad tjmpus quod pentecoftcai fubfecutum eft; quia hanc 
 parabolam videtur Dominus propofuiiTe in fynagoga, occafione fcrip- 
 turaj quLU tunc ibi legeretur. lllud enim, Eccc quldam legis-peritus 
 furrexit tentans eiun, indicat fediiTc hunc legis-peritum, et de more 
 propofuiiTe quxftionem Domino; quam ille folverit, convertens ani- 
 mum et oculos k-gis-pcriti ad ipfam Scripturam modo leclam ; quod 
 indicat illud, ^^'jinodo legis. Sec. Locus autem Scripture, ut puto, 
 erat vcrlus 5tuii cap. 6ti D^ut. quod caput legebatur ultimo Sabbato 
 mcnfis yJby uno aut altero menfe poft pentecoftem. Id. p. 219. 
 
 The fame author obferves, that the order of time being generally 
 ncglcrted, both by S. Mark and S. Luke; their narratives are to be 
 regulated as well by the foregoing obfervation, as by comparing 
 them with S. Matt, who was an eye-witnefs of moft things, and 
 therefore went by a local memory. Comp. Ne^wt, on Dan. p. 152. or 
 Hartley, Obferv. Vol. II. p. 103. 
 
 Lamv has another remark, which feems to deferve conlideration, 
 as of ibme confequence to the fettling a true harmony of the Gof- 
 pels, 'viz, that Jshn the Bapti/l fuftered two imprifonments, one from 
 
 U 3 the 
 
310 
 
 I 
 
 f; 
 
 Refections on the 
 
 ties; from fome extraordinary accidents, remark- 
 able places, or tranfaftions;' and the like. 
 
 Thus, upon curing a blind man, he ftiles him- 
 felf the light of the world; and admoniflies the 
 Pharifees of their fpiritual blindnefs, and inexcuf- 
 able obftinacy, in refufmg to be cured and en- 
 lightened by him §. On little children being 
 brought to him, he recomm.ends the innocence 
 and humility of that ftate, as very proper qua- 
 lities for all thofe who v/ould be true members of 
 his church ; and under the fame figure, intimates 
 the privileges that belong to all fuch f . On being 
 told, that his mother and brethren came to feek 
 him s he declares to all thofe among his difci- 
 ples, who were defirous of learning, and difpofed 
 to follow his inftruaions; that they were equal- 
 ly dear to him, and (hould be equally regarded 
 by him, as his very neareft friends and rela- 
 tions *. Beholding the flowers of the field, and 
 the fowls of the air, he teaches his difciples to 
 frame right and worthy notions of that provi- 
 dence which fupports them, and therefore will 
 fupport Beings of a rank fo much fuperior to 
 them J. Obferving the fruits of the earth, he 
 inftruas them to judge of men, by their fruits; 
 and not to be themfelves unfruitful under all the 
 
 means 
 
 the Sanhedrhn [M<7tt. iv. i2.-xvii. 12.] before that ether from He^ 
 rod: vid. Harm. p. 105, and 367. and a particular treatife ot his, 
 De duobus \ inculis Juhunnis, 
 
 5 John ix. 5, 39, 41. 
 
 t Mark X. 14, 15. M'//- Xviii. 4, 5. 6. 10. 
 
 * Matt. xii. 47. Mark iii. 32. vid. Be^'finy c 10. fe^. ii. Other 
 inftances of this kind may be I'een below, p. 3*3- 
 
 X Matt. vi. i(^, 28. Luke xii. 24, &c. 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIS "f. ^ 1 1 
 
 means of grace H- Taknig notice of their beha- 
 viour at a feaft, he firft gives general advice 
 therein to both the mafter {(p) and his guefts ; 
 
 and 
 
 II Matt.\\i. 16. Luke v\. 43, &c. 
 
 (f) The not attending to our Saviour's manner oi iri(ix\xE^\ng oc' 
 cafionally, and by a fpecial inftance then occurring i [though he was 
 far from infiiling on that very particular inftance, farther (till from 
 confining his uodrine to it ;] inftead of laying down immediately 
 the ge/uT'il rule, as we ihould probably do; or enjoining x.\iQ principle, 
 which either woald extend to that and the like inllancs, or produce 
 an eauivaknt as the cafe required ; — this has given room for a great 
 deal of very indecent drollery on Luke xiv. 12, 13. from Chubb-, 
 [i'oik. Works, p. 24, &:c.] as if, inftead of direding o\u beneficence in 
 general to fuch in the firft place as wanted it.moft; which is all that 
 can fairly be implied, and which is furely unexceptionable; Chrift 
 had confined his direflion to that one particular mode of hofpita- 
 lity; and required all his difciples, who were of ability, to invnte 
 the pocry Icwie, blinds &c. to tht;ir tables: to entertain fuch there, 
 and fuch only : which would, as Chubb fays in the fame ftrain, p. 
 27. he fo7iuthing extraoniinary. Dominus venit non tantum ut ede- 
 ret ; fed etiam ut aliquid boni doceret, occafione fumpta ex rebus 
 qu:e occurrebant. — Non prohibet fimpliciter vocare divites ad cee- 
 nam, vel convivium; hoc enim et humanitas fsepe poftulat, ct res 
 ipia. — Sed agit hie dc conviviis voluntariis, qua: non alia de caufa 
 inftituuntur quam animo bensfaciendi. Deinde, non prohibet id 
 tanquam peccatum ; fed tanquam rem inutilem, etnullius moment! 
 coram Deo; incitans ad rem qux utilis valde et apud Dcum eximia 
 eft. Nee prajcipit Chriftus omnino ut convivia faciant; fed fi velint 
 facere, oftenait quiHadebent facere, et quos invitare. Tantundem 
 valet; etfi non inftruas ex profeflb convivium, fi mittas paupcri ci- 
 bos in domuni ejus ; fi des ei pecuniam, qua fibi emere poflit necef- 
 faria. Crell. O'^. Tom. U. p. 55. Comp. Cleric. Whitby, Grot, in loc. 
 
 I ihall add tw > or three parallel pa/Tages, which may perhaps hc!p . 
 to procure this a moie favourable interpretation; at leaft, will ftievv 
 the precept 'o he not fo vcty peculiarly Chrijliany as this fame gentle- 
 man is ple.ifed ta rjprefent, in order to burlcfque and expofeit: \^ib. 
 p. zby ^c] And in truth, with juft as much probability, as he thinks 
 ivajhing the fett. is one cfihep^ ri-ve fnjlitutions that belong to Chrift- 
 ianiry, annexing it to B...ptiJ-/iAA>\ the Lord -^ Supper, ib. p. 277. 
 
 C:c, Off. i. 13. — Hoc maxime officii eft, ut quifque inaximeo^n^ 
 indigeat, ita ei potifiimum opitulari; quo J contra fit a plerifque : a 
 quo enim plurimum fperant, etiamfi ille his non egct, tamen ei po- 
 tifiimum inferviunt. — Plin. Epift. ix. 30. Volo eum qui fit vcic \h 
 beralis, tribuere patriae, propinquis, affinibus, amicis; fed amicis 
 dico pauperibus : non ut ifti, qui iis poiiflimum donant, quid -nare 
 maxime poiTunt. Hos ego vifcatis hamatifque muneribus, non faa 
 promere puto, fed aliena corripere. — Anhfih^!>:; zc-^arljiif rx wffjr 
 
 U 4 7V^ 
 
312 KeficBions on the 
 
 and from thence brings them to the confidera- 
 tion of a better entertainment, to which they 
 \vere all invited ; but of which few among them 
 would be perfuaded to render themfelves wor- 
 thy *. From meat and drink, he leads them to 
 the eating of his body, and drinking his blood, 
 in a fpiritual fenfe^ the being nouriflied v/ith his 
 doctrine, and partaking of his kingdom -f*. From 
 
 out- 
 
 ^a,q uv ov}Xov oTi xxi tff^orri'jQKut Tfc'» iffuf ti'Tt/^sn'. Dion. Pruf. Or. Vll. 
 With regi^rd to the ]all mentioned precept of nx^.^Jhing the ftrf, 
 which C/^^^^ pretends to beef perpetual obligation, and which fbmc 
 feifts of Chrilfians have not underilood much better; give me leave 
 to add the explanation by Michadis, Introd. to the N. T. p. 254. * 
 * The wafhlng of feet was in the Eaftern countries commonly the 
 iirfl kindnefs ihewn to a traveller, who was to be hofpitably receiv- 
 ed ; whence it is foinetimes put for hofpitality in general ; i Tzm.v. 1 o. 
 When therefore Chrift waihed the feet of his difciples, and taught 
 them to condefcend in like manner to their inferiors ; it amounts to 
 ^s much, as if he had iniUtuted the law o{ hpjpitality among all his 
 future difciples. Now as flrangcrs are the objects of this law, and 
 iiot pcrfons who live together in the fame place; he by this ccm- 
 inandment obliged all his future difciples to love each other; and 
 abolidied the diiHnc^ion between Jew and Heathen. This is the 
 true meaning of thi^ adKon of thrift, which many have interpreted 
 fo ftrangely.* Comp. Bohmevy Diff. xii. p. 550. who among the 
 things retained in the primitive church without fufficient authority 
 l«ckon3 l^otiopiAiim mimica a falvatore minime mandata. 
 
 * Luke y^\x. 7,16. Comp. Doddr. in loc. Thus, probably a wed- 
 ding proceflion pafllng by, gave occafion to the beautiful parable of 
 %h«, ten virgins. Wyrvi*: on yuttt. xxv. 1 . 
 
 f John vi. 31, 53, &c. — Se.: a like allufion on the mention of 
 m^aty^Jobn iv. 32. The fame thing in all probability occafioned that 
 jemarkable anfwer to the Syrcfi^cciicum woman, Matt. xv. 26. hUirk 
 1^1.2.7. Sifie prtHJ faturctri filios, i:*ne prius Jada:os impleri Lcne- 
 ficJi,s ut nihil habeant quod querantur. Tum tempus veniet fpar- 
 gendi cceleftia bencticia in gentcs alias, cum Judrtos ceperit eorur.i 
 beneficiojum faiiidium. Forfan cndem hora Chriilus accumbebat 
 menf* cibo rt;ficiens vires, zndeex re allegoriam fumpfit. Ut prius 
 cibi a|>ponujntur liliis et domellicis, quam extranci.^; ita ubi benefi* 
 ciaChriflws cojiaturus erat, decebat cum prrcfcrre Juda:os gentibus. 
 ^Qit eji. mim honum [pro, nun cil honcflum, non citctty] Jiwiere paftem 
 Mjurum,. St. mittere canihus. Sic vocat gentes, non ex fenfu fuo, fed 
 ex coflfimiin; JudajOiUjn loque4a, qui Ethnicos aflimuUbiinicanibus. 
 Livny^ Hajm. p. 313. Comp. Li^htfcct in loc. 
 
 Life mid Character of CHRIST. 313 
 
 outward wajl:ing, to the purifying of the heart, 
 and cleanfmg the affeftions J. From tafting of 
 the fruit of the vine after the pafchal fupper ; 
 to the celebration of an eternal feftival of free- 
 dom, reft, and happinefs in another world ||. 
 From the falt^ he takes occafion to acquaint them 
 with the nature of their office, which was to fea- 
 fon the minds of men, and keep them from the 
 contagion of this world -, as well as give them a 
 true tafte and relifh for the enjoyments of that 
 kingdom ; and at the fame time reminds them 
 of the abfolute neceffity for their duly executing 
 this their office; otherwife, inftead of being the 
 beft, the pureft, and moft ufeful ; they would 
 become the moft worthlefs, and incurable, and 
 contemptible among mankind *. Thofe that 
 were fifliers, he teaches how to catch men -j- : 
 
 and 
 
 :J John xiii. 8. 
 
 II Matt. xxvi. 29. Luke xxli. 17, 1 8. Ex occaflone vlni confpicui 
 ct proprie difti, Chriflus docet difcipulosfe non amplius celebratu- 
 rum cum iis ullam liberationem, nifi poftremam iiJam qua ex omni~ 
 bus malis refurre<Slione liberabuntur. Defcribit cceleilem illam hila- 
 ritSLiem potione 'vinif non tantum quia hujus rei incidit mentio, paulo 
 poftquam vinum bibillet; fed quia bibercvinum in Scriptura perinde 
 eft ac convivari [vid. Efaia, c xxii. 13. xxiv. 9.] felicitas vero fub 
 imagine convivii defcribitur, ut c. viii. 1 1. Addit njinum hoc fore 
 no'vuniy quia apoftoli antea nunqunm hanc felicitatem guftaverint. 
 Sxpe Chriftus a rebus corporeis ad fpiritualcs tranfiens eas iifdem 
 vocibus exprlmit. Cleric, in Mutt. xxvi. 29. 
 
 • Mark ix. 50. vid. Cleric. Luke xiv. 34. vid. Whithy in loc. 
 
 f Lukew. 10. Mark'i. 17. Ne mireris captos ate tot pifces. Leve 
 hoc eft; jam homines capies ; fed hoc difcrimine, ut qui pifces ad 
 mortem capere folebas, homines capias ad vitam ; tar, (u:y^u:v, id eft, 
 vivos capies ut fcrves. — Haec pifcatio vaticinium erat anoftolis non 
 fuapte induftria, fed Chrifti imperio ac virtute, expaniis evangelii 
 retibus tantam fafluros capturam, ut opus habituri effent fubfidiaria 
 multorum evangeliftarum opera ; atque ita impletum iri non unam 
 navim, Judaeorum fcilicet ; itd et^aiteram, nempe Gentium ; qua- 
 rum navium futura fit aidta atque indivullli fccietas. Lu?ny, Com. 
 in Harm, p, 116, 
 
^ I A RefeSiions on the 
 
 and fliews them how far this would refemble 
 their former employment, in taking of all kinds, 
 both bad and good; which were at firft infepara- 
 ble, but would at length be carefully diftinguifh- 
 ed from each other §. Seeing the money-changers, 
 he exhorts his difciples to lay out their feveral 
 talents to the beft advantage*. Being among the 
 ftieepfolds, he proves himfelf to be the true (hep- 
 herd of fouls, defcribing the particulars in which 
 his charader exactly anfwered that of a good 
 fhepherd, even fo far as to the givwg, or layhig 
 doum his lifejor the pep \, i. e. expofmg himfelf 
 to certain death in the proteftion and defence of 
 his flock from hearts of prey. Among vines, 
 he difcourfcs on the fpiritual hulbandman and 
 vine-dreller ; and draws a parallel between his 
 vineyard, and the natural one %. At the Sun 
 rifmg, he fays, I am ihe light of the 'world, he that 
 f olio-duet h me.foall not ivalk in darbiefs, but have the 
 light of life. q. d. The Sun arifes to fet again in 
 a few hours, and may fail many of you, e'er you 
 have finifhed your journey : but every one that re- 
 ceives and governs himfelf by my doctrine, (hall 
 have a conftant and continual guide, fufficient to 
 
 direct 
 
 $ Mctt. xiii. 47. 
 
 • ^fatt, XXV. 27. Luke xix. 25, 4^. 
 
 t John X. 11, I ;. Or that aifourfe of ChriiV' which i> here re- 
 ferTedto, mi-ht be drawn from I/a. xl. n. part of that chapter be- 
 \vin the leflbn appointed to be read about th?t time; as Lamy gathers 
 wuh fome fliew of probability. To which we may add, that the 
 title oijhepherJ. fo frequently given by the prophets to M^J/iah, [E%tk, 
 xx>iv. 2v xxxvii. 24. Zach. xiii. 7. Pf- ^^^^' »-]/v^^ by the /^-.'v 
 • applied peculiarly to him. vid. Mix, Judgment of Jew. Ch. p 304. 
 
 I Affl//. xxvi. 30. Jc^n XV. I. See another .illufjon, in all pre- 
 bability, to a i\ne betcrc him, in D-uJriri.^c on Job. xv. 1 • 
 
 Life and Characler of CHRIST. 315 
 
 direft him to eternal life ||. Upon the appearance 
 of fummer in the trees before him, he points out 
 as evident figns of his approaching kingdom §. At 
 the feafon of fruits, he puts the Jews in mind, 
 that the time was come when fome would be ex- 
 pefted from them, in return for all the labour that 
 had been beftowed upon them ; and intimates the 
 judgment, that would Ihortly overtake all fuch 
 among them as were found unprofitable*. When 
 the harveft comes on, he reminds them of the 
 fpiritual hai-veft, or the gathering of his church 
 among men ; admonifties them to labour dili- 
 gently in that work, and add their prayers to 
 Heaven for fuccefs f . From fervants being made 
 free on the fabbatical year, he takes occafion to 
 proclaim a greater and more noble freedom fi'om 
 the llavery of fin, and bondage of corruption t. 
 
 And 
 
 II Vid. Doddr. onjoh. vili. 12. com. Wetpn in Job, i. 5. p. S3S. 
 
 5 Luke xxi. 29. Matt. xxiv. 32. 
 
 • Matt, xxi. 33. Luke xiii. 6. 
 
 t Matt. ix. 38. Luke X. 2. A like comparifon between the feafon 
 of a fpiritual harveft, and fv)me circumilances in the natural one, 
 occurs Jo/j. iv. 35, 36. Lift up your eyes ^ and look on the fields'^ for they 
 are njohite already to har'vcfi. And be that rtcpeth, rcccivcth ^.uages ; and 
 gather eth fr Hit unto life eternal. In which words '/ejus alludes to the 
 number of Samaritans o.O'Kixwg to him, and who now began to appear 
 in fight. He poinis towards them, and calls upon the ApolHcs to 
 behold the agreeable fight, and ccnfidtr his approaching harveft. 
 Benfon, Life of Chrift, p. 125, 386. Comp. Clarke in loc. 
 
 I John viii. 32. See an allufion to the grent day of atonement, 
 p. 283. note *. That remarkable exprefiion in adminiftcring the 
 facrament of the laft fuppei% I'histi ?ny kdy, [i\htt. xxvi.^26.] is no 
 lefs evidently allufive to ihtPauhal Lamb, termed i\\Q Lord's PaJTbcver, 
 [Ex. xii. II.] or the Body of the Pafcvcr, according to the Jewifti 
 form of celebrating this feaft: [Mdfnon. Cham Umatfah. c. 8. fe6l. 
 i. et vii.] as likewife the woids, 7*//-> is my Blood of the neix: Covrnajit, 
 ib. 28. or The ne-iv Ccvena?tt in ^r.y Bleed, [Luke xxii. 2C.] are a mani- 
 feft application of the very terms made uiV .>f in the inftitution of the 
 
 old 
 
mmmm 
 
 witm0>'i»>>/^" 
 
 ^ 1 6 Reflexions on the 
 
 And from the Jewijh ceremony of fetching wa^ 
 ter on the laft day of the feaft of tabernacles, in 
 commemoration of the miracle wrought for their 
 fathers in the thirfty wildernefs ; he introduces 
 an offer of that true living water, which ftiould 
 be unto them a well fpringing up unto everlaft- 
 ing life J the gofpel of immortal happinefs and 
 fa£ation; and the plentiful effufion of the Holy 
 Spirit, which they that believed on him were to 
 receive ||. Upon a report that certain Jews were 
 maflacred by the Roman governor in the midft of 
 their devotions ; and that others had lately met 
 with a no lefs untimely death by the fall of a 
 , tower in Jerufalem -, he 'guards his audience a- 
 gainft the common vices of pride and cenforiouf- 
 nefs, in judging fuch as thefe to be the greateft 
 fmners, becaufe they were the moll eminent fuf- 
 ferers -, and exhorts them all to repent of their 
 
 own 
 
 old covenant. Ex, xxiv. 8. Comp. Heh. ix. 22. That in the for- 
 mer inilance, CkriJ} accommodated himfelf to each minute circum- 
 ftance of X^^JeJjh ceremonial, as in tnk.n^ «^ the bread Mnc^ 
 J^ator. breaki^, dtjhibuttng it, &c. is fhewn by yg^^^f';^ ^'f'"^' 
 1 Kit. in zJl Dom. ex Antiq- Pafchal. illuftrat. Thel. Ant. Sacr. 
 
 Vol. XVII. 
 
 H Ichn vii. :7, I'C. Comp. John'vf, 10. where the fame image is 
 rl^iZ oiolW like oLion. Vid. CW. ib. et in v. 14. ^^ 
 LI, Harm. p. 324. In >^. vi. 38. Out of hu belly jhall p.vr^ers 
 M.rM Tome fappVe an allufion to the/r.,.;«..9- of that ca- 
 Lciou;^ golden vafe from which the avater was ihcnjouraloutm a 
 Ce ftrfam. Vid. DoJdr. in loc. The firft of the pafTages may like- 
 w il be confidered as a more particular allufion to the lefon for the 
 21 In Sabbato circa hunc noviffimum diem tabernaculorum oc- 
 rurrenti legcbatur Iv. I/at^ei quod animadverfione dignum eft. Sic 
 enimincipit illud caput. O^^^msfiientes 'venite ad apu:, &c. ct in eo 
 Sus; V^r.V. uLnum dum tn^tmri poteft', ^"de Dominus mate- 
 r am differendi fumpfit ; quod verifimile eft Ixpuis feciffe, in templo 
 et !^ f/^aW^' -^i P- ^^"g"^^ ^^^^*^" legebantur facri codices ex 
 Dfdir.c. Id. ib. p. 325. 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIST. 317 
 
 own crimes, before the divine judgments over- 
 took them ; which would fhortly fall upon that 
 People, and be the more diftinguifliable, as com- 
 ing attended with the very fame circumflances||||. 
 From the confpicuous eminence of a city ftand- 
 ing on a mountain, he turns his difcourfe to the 
 no lefs remarkable fituation of his own difci- 
 ples*. From the Temple before him, htpci?:ts'f 
 to that of his body -, which was moft properly fo- 
 called from the divinity refiding in him J. From 
 Herod's unadvifedly leading his army out to meet 
 the king of Arabiay who came againft him with 
 fuperior forces, and defeated him || y a lelTon is 
 laid down to all who entered on tlie Chrillian 
 warfai*e, that they fhould firft well weigh, and 
 carefully compute the difficulties that attended 
 it, before they were engaged in a matter of fuch 
 confequence§. From the robberies wliich were 
 more paiticularly frequent in that age "^'^ and 
 place ^^y he forms a beautiful ftoiy of a certain 
 
 traveller, 
 
 LuheyAU, i-^. uo-ccvru't; ava'Ku^tf. thus, in tliis manner ye fball 
 perifti. Vid. Grotius, Doddridge, Whitby, in loc. Comp. Benfon, p.381, 
 420. 
 
 * Matt, V. 14. vid. Maundrrll, p. U^- 
 
 fin the like manner I conceive him laying his hand on Peter, 
 when he fpake thefe words. Upon this Rock, Sec. Matt. xvi. 18. as the 
 prophet I/aiah probably did to his Son when he faid, before tire [or 
 this] Child Jhall kmzv to refufc the evil, &c. c. vii. 16. Vid. Kenmcott^ 
 Serm. 32I and Not. 60. 
 
 X John iu 19. Tkus alfo when he fays, In my Father'' s houfe are 
 many marfions, fome think he alludes to the various apartments in 
 the Temple; and the vaft number of perfons lodged diere, 
 
 II Jofeph. Ant. 'jud. Lib. xix. c. 7. 
 
 $ Lukf. xiv. 31. 
 
 ** JoAP^J' Ant. Jud. Lib. xx. c.G. Id. B. J. c. 5. Sc in Vit. p. 2, 3. 
 
 ff So many robberies and murders were committed on this roaJ^ 
 which lay through a kind of wildernefs between yfr/y^r/t/.^ and '/rr/- 
 iho ; that 'Jerom tells us, it Vv-as called the bloody z'jqy, Doddr. on Luh 
 X. 3.0. Comp. Polt Synopf^ or JJghtf oof. Her, Keb. in !>c. 
 
h 
 
 „i8 RefeBions on the 
 
 traveller, who fell among thieves, was ftrlpped, 
 and wounded, and could find rehef from none 
 of his own country or perfuafion; but met with 
 it in one of thofe, from whom he had the leaft 
 reafon to expeft any, as being fo much ufed to 
 defpife and hate that people, and their way of 
 worfhip i^ From whence he forces his oppo- 
 nent to approve this amiable inftance of humani- 
 ty even in the odious charafter of a Samantan ; 
 and thereby (hews him inconteftably, that the 
 like good office would no lefs become a Jew in 
 the like circumftances *. And from what hap- 
 pened about that time, namely, that thofe, who 
 obtained the kingdom of Judea, went to 7^.;;;. to 
 be confirmed in it ; and on their return, called 
 fuch to account as had been wanting in then- 
 duty, and took ample vengeance on thofe who 
 rebelled againft them, (which was the cafe par- 
 ticularly under Archelaus, a few years before our 
 
 U That t^^Y^^raSC;^^^^^^^^ 
 Tv^'tr SVuVstClL^fhe^ ver, artfully 
 
 'fLt. (UxvH .6.) appears ^^^^r^^^^:^!^^ 
 
 , A -John -">^^„,h fh,L .nmifyToward 'clearing and confirrning 
 confequence of iuch their <=""■ 'X , . ^V , u^iy. Hift. 
 
 thofe points wherein they agreed, is drawn oy Doj,ua, 
 
 p. 406,41 7. &c. I. ~ a. 
 
 . . \T,A rUrh \h -i xd. Concerning the 'Jewijh 
 
 • Luke X. 30, &c. Vid. ^/^'■;^^;^i^i ^onof thcwSrd««:?W«r. 
 
 ^"TP" W^ addS ai'oldinTth"imputation of direaiy oppo. 
 
 p 220. Prohibitum eit eos(^oenuic!.; Tam impiam doc- 
 
 rrina,r.<iF^-afronteimpet.ffetD^^^^^^^ 
 
 eum traditionibus doitorum ^^'^^'t • -^^j n^u poterat non 
 
 exemplu^n exim.. charita^^^^^^^ rrcni^tur'cont" Ham ^t faniorem 
 
 7o£i^J:}.o calculo co4robare. Comp. DJ^r. ;. U. .. S3« 
 
 m 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRISf. 319 
 
 Lord delivered that parable -f ;) he gives his fol- 
 lowers to underftand, that after he had afcendcd 
 into heaven, and taken full pofleflion of his fpi- 
 ritual kingdom ^ he would come again in power 
 and great glory, and not only punifli that re- 
 bellious nation of the Jews^ with exemplary 
 judgments ; but at length condemn all thofe 
 who wilfully oppofed his gofpel ; as well as thofe 
 who continued to negled and difregard itt- 
 
 Many more inftances might be given, where 
 Cbrift has formed his arguments and exhortations 
 on fuch things as offered themfelves to him -, ap- 
 plying each mod aptly to his prefent purpofe : 
 and where this does not fo immediately appear, 
 we have reafon to believe it chiefly owing to the 
 omiflion of fome circumftances in the hiftory ; 
 as is obferved by a very eminent writer (;^). By this 
 
 means 
 
 t Jo/eph. Ant. Jud. Llb.xviii. c 14, 15. 
 
 X Lukexix. 12. Vid. Clinc. et C/arh in loc. or Harwoo J, Introd, 
 to the N. Teft. c. ^,^6. 
 
 [^) See Nenjjt. on Dan. p. 148. note^, where many of thefe in- 
 ftances of our Saviour's fpcaking/ro re nata are produced. Comp. 
 Li^htfootjOp. Lat. Vol.1, p. 416. on Matt. x.zg. Luhx\i.6. — p.4i7e 
 Matt. x.g, 10. — p. 468. Johiiv.'^f;, et Vol. II. p. 45. Matt.xx1.21. — 
 p. 288. Matf.v.24. Schoetgeniiy Hor. Heb. p.143. inM^//.xvi. l8. et 
 John\i.^o. Bp. Hoadlef% Serm. on Matt.xi. 30. pr. 
 
 But we are prefented with the bed colle&on of fuch inftances, 
 together with the proper u/es to be made of them, by a learned and 
 ingenious writer; whom I (hall take the liberty of citing in the 
 margin*; and proceed to obferve from hence, how necefTary a care- 
 ful 
 
 • In the Spring, our Saviour went into the fields, and fat down on 
 a mountain, and made that difcourfe which is recorded in St. Mat- 
 t^e-LCy and which is full of obfervations arifmg from the things 
 which offered themfelves to his fight. For when he exhorted his 
 difciples to trull in God, he bade them Se/jcid the fo'^ls of the air, 
 which were then flying about them, and were fed by Divine Provi- 
 dence, thotigh rhey did noty^-o; nor naj), nor gether into barns : he 
 2 ... ba''e 
 
-^20 RefleSitons on the 
 
 ful attention to the particular occafion, time, and place ; as well a» 
 fituation, pofture, gefture, &c. in which our Saviour fpakcmuft be, 
 in order fully to comprehend the pertinence, the force, and beauty 
 
 bade them take notice of the lilies of the field, which were then 
 Mown, and were fo beautifully clothed by the fame power, and yet 
 toiled not like the hulbandmen, who were then at work. B^^ng "^ a 
 place whence they had a wide profped of a cultivated land, he bade 
 them obferve how God caufed the fun to fhme, and the rain to de- 
 fcend upon the fields and gardens, even of the wicked and ungrate- 
 ful : and he continued to convey his dodrine to them under rural 
 images; fpeaking of good trees, and corrupt trees ; of knowing 
 men by their frufts ; of wolves in fheep's clothing ; of grapes not 
 grmving upon thorns, nor figs on thirties ; of the folly ot caft„,g 
 precious things to do^s and fwine ; of good meafurc prefTed down, 
 Ld fhaken together, and running over. Speaking at the fame time 
 to people, many of whom were fiihermen, and lived much upon fifli, 
 he fays. What man of you ^viU gi^e hh fon ajerpent,zf he ajh a fijh^ 
 Therefore when heYaid, in the fame difcourfe to his difciples, } . 
 ere the light of the ivorU', a ctty that isjk on a hdl cannot he ^-^^^ ^ 
 probable, that he pointed to a city within their view, fituated upon 
 the brow of a hill. And when he called them the/aa of the earth, he 
 alluded perhaps to the hulbandmen who were manuring the ground : 
 and when he compared every perfon who obferved his precepts, to a 
 man who built a houfe upon a rock, wh ch flood firm ; and every 
 one who flighted his word, to a man who built a houfe upon the 
 fand, which was thrown down by the winds and floods : when he ufed 
 this comparifon, 'tis not improbable that he had before his eyes, 
 
 houfes flanding upon high ground, ^"^,^2''^" ."\ ''•''!n^^;ion, 
 ruinous condilion, which had been deflroyed by inundations. 
 Jcytin\ Difcourfes, p. 213, &c. 2d Ed. Qom^,BenJon, p. J96. 
 ^ Going from Baha% to JerufaUm with his difciples, as they pafTed 
 
 over a mountain, he faid. If y. >^«^^>^,/^, 'f '"mT*J^\ ^T 
 remold, and be thou caft into thefea, it Jhall be done. Matt xxl. 21 
 When he fays, L^i.xxii. 25. rhe kings of tU Gentile, excraje UrdM 
 c^cr them, and they that exercife authority upon them arc 'ff^/'J"^^^^^^ 
 he alludes to the vanity of fome wicked princes m thole times, who 
 deferved the title of robbers, much better than of benefadors, (vid 
 Cleric in loc.) When the woman of Samaria, 'johnx\^. wondcreci 
 tiiat he flinuld afk water of her; he took occafion to reprefent his 
 doarine under the image of li^ving.n.ater. ^r ^^^^{.^^^^ V T/ tC 
 a fpring. When he was by the fea-fliore, M^// xm. he fpake three 
 par^ables to the people, concerning a fower; becaufe it was then 
 probably feed-time, a. others have obferved At the time of the 
 
 paflbver, alluding to it, he fays, Johns. 24. //^ ^""it^nirof 
 \:^^Z'^\y,'., is paffed from death unto life. [Crrot.) When he fpake of 
 The fig-tree which had borne no fruit for three years, and was to 
 be cut down if it produced none the next year ; he alluded per- 
 haps to the time that he had fpent in preaching to the P^^^ Jf 
 wc.l as to their obftinacy, and to the punilhment ^^:aca would tol- 
 low it. Lukey:<\v. Id. ib. in not. p. 216, 2d. Ed. 
 
 Life and Characier of CHRIS T. 321 
 
 means he improved every thing into an ufeful 
 moral ; made every obje6t and event ferve for a 
 
 con ft ant 
 
 of his difcourfes : which fliould remind us of the allowances that 
 ought in juftice to be made for the uncouthnefs of fome things in 
 them at this day, from our unavoidable ignorance of many fuch 
 minute circumftances ; and make us fenfible of the value of thofe 
 authors, who throw fo much light on feveral paflages of fcripture, 
 by attempting to fupply them. See Macknight, Harm. Prelim. Obf. 
 I, 2. and Wetfeny de Interpret. N. T. p. 878, &c. 
 ^ It may be farther obferved, that Chriji is no lefs eafy and intelli- 
 gible to his auditors in his more y?/ difcourfes, by alluding in as 
 familiar a way to all their cuftoms, proverbs, maxims, &c. fpeaking 
 always precifely in the charafter of a Jen,v, and in exad conformity 
 to what fuch underftood beft, and had been moft ufed to ; to what 
 had been before defcribed or appointed in their facred books. Thus 
 he takes the very form of his firft Sermon on the Mount, from thofe 
 bleffings and curfings on two mountains, the publifliing whereof was 
 enjoined to the Ifraelites upon their entrance into the Holy Land ; 
 (T>eut.x\v\\, 28. Jojh, viii.) Matt, v. Luke \u 2^, the manner of 
 which folemnity has been defcribed at large by fome of their wri- 
 ters. Vid. Lightfoot on Matt, v. 3, 4. Op. T. ii. p. 20. - The fame 
 method he continues to the laft, when on the crofs he begins to re- 
 peat, or as it were, gives out, the 2 2d Pfalm, which fo very clearly 
 defcribes the fufFerings and death of the Mejftah ; which prophecy 
 he was at that very time fulfilling, and thereby afcertainino- and 
 appropriating this charafter to himfelf. M^//.xxvii.46. Mark xv.54. 
 That a whole Pfalm or Song is fometimes referred 10 by reciting the 
 firft words of it, may be gathered from Exod. xv. i, &c. compared 
 with ;>. 21. ib, Tee Pi/kington's Remarks, p. 129. 
 
 I fliall give another inftance, where our blefled Saviour's condu6l 
 does not feem to have been fufficiently underftood, for want of at- 
 tending to the circumftance abovementioned. John viii. when the 
 woman, faid to be apprehended in adultery, is brought before our 
 Lord, merely with a malicious view of drawing him into a difficulty 
 whatever determination he fliould give ; ^. 6. we find him focping 
 doivn and ^writing on the ground. Where it is obfervable, that he does 
 nothing but in as exad conformity as the place would admit, to the 
 trial of the adulterous wife prefcribed by God in Kumb. v. 11, &c. 
 where the prieft was to ftoop down, and take fome of the duft from* 
 the floor of the tabernacle, f, 17. and likcwife write out the curfes 
 denounced upon that occafion, f. 23. By that ad therefore Chrift 
 declares himfelf willing to take cognizance of this afi'air, if they 
 were willing to abide the confequence ; w«. according to their own 
 traditions, to be involved in the fame curfe if they proved equally 
 guilty : on wliich account, this way of trial was aboliflied by the 
 Sanhedrim about that very time, fince that fin, fay the Je-ws, grew 
 then fo very common. See Light f on ;^. 3. It is likewife probable 
 that Chrifl might, by his countenance and geflure, fliew theft- hypo- 
 
 ^ crites 
 
«22 Reflexions o)t the 
 
 conftant monitor, and remembrancer of his in- 
 ftruaions ; which by thefe means muft be more 
 eafily retained, than they could be by a long train 
 of abftraa reafoning,, or under any artificial ar- 
 rangement 
 
 erhcs how well he was a%vare bodi of their ill defien in thus de- 
 ^andingli^sment from him ; and of their own oVoxjoufnefs to 
 The fam? punilhment, which Mofes\ law appo.nted for that crime 
 and which, through a pretended zeal, they took u^on themfelve» 
 the power of execlting^though.they were no lefs g-^ ty of the very 
 faJftn; (as is moft probably implied in his words to 'hem, J.*. 
 v\\\l according to the interpretation of fome late writers, V. Kyrk^ 
 Obf Sac in loc") and at theVame time feeming to be fo far other- 
 wife er^noved, ai not to take any notice of their confufion when 
 Thus mu^h was intimated to thm ; he gives them a fair opportunity 
 to flip away, (which they very prudent y kid hold of) ere he pro- 
 ceeded a^w farther. 'The moft probable account of our Saviour s 
 ^nb-^^nd writing, is that which is contained in an interpolation, 
 SHsle koned at the end of the 8th V. in fome copies ; that what 
 Chrift wrote were the fms of the woman's accufers ; vvhich how 
 effeaual it was to their (hame and confufion, appeared from the 
 event Dr. Worthmton, B. Lea. V. i. p. 1 80. Im.tabatur Chnjius, 
 urquidan fentiuntfgeftum facerdotis, quiuxorem fufpeaam.exp o- 
 ratTrus fefe inclinabat, pulveremque a pvimento f^nauaru coUn 
 ffcbat quern aqux infufum praberct fcem.nx huic quae fufpeaa erat. 
 !^nu cVuid fu, f.c fe inclinans, Dominus locum ded.t Pkr.f^isfe 
 fubducelidi a confpeau ejus. - Jud^i docent nos aquas Zelotypue 
 „on nocuilfe uxori adultera:, nif. ipfe mar.tus infons eflbt. Adulter 
 amem cum adultera pariter tumore ventns et putredine femoris cor- 
 Sant^r. Main,o.^i» Sotah, c. 2.-Hxc inter amies Rabbmorum 
 fSs effe numeranda dicet quifpiam. Attamen conftat teft.momo 
 7S", turn et facri codicis. 2li.n Deum mamfeftis.pcenis occulta 
 ffla'punililc. Dici ergo poteft quod judicium Dei reverit., ^ma 
 a culpa fonan non erant immunes, exceffennt fcnte et .Pharife, 
 
 omnes. Lamy, Harm. p. 329- ^'-''^ ">^ """8 ""^^^^^ '"^f '"^'^'^ 
 ory^A. viii.-^S, 9. and Vol.^ll. p. ,080, &c. - 'Itisprefumed with 
 reafon. i/?, 1 hat this woman's accufers were themfelves guilty of 
 the cr me which tliey laid to her charge, in the fame manner almoft 
 a, the accufers of the chaSe Sufanua. Now it is not juft to receive 
 the accufotions of thofe perfons, who are guilty of the evil which 
 thcv find fault with in another. - 2. There is room to believe, that 
 the woman here fp, ken of had fuffercd fome violence, and that her 
 crime was much leflencd by the circumllances attending il. SeUcn 
 InAFnzius are of opinion, that l.er cafe was the fame with that re- 
 hted bf ,'./,>. Deut. x.ii. =9. Cahut. Dia. Art. Mulu^^ A vindi- 
 cation of the authenticity of this whole paflagCj %mh an explana- 
 tion of its feveral en.ls ir.d uf.,, may U- f.en in Bc.^; l^/.^^ta- 
 ■ tion on the Subjea. Life of Chrift, p. 637, &c. Comp. Worthwgton, 
 B. Lea. 9 V. V.I. 
 
 Life and Character of C HR 1ST*. 323 
 
 rangement of a number of particulars laid down 
 together. 
 
 Again, it is obfervable, that he delivered many 
 things by way oi fiory^ or parable 'y a moft en- 
 gaging, and a moft effbftual method of inftruc- 
 tion \ gradually informing thofe who in reality 
 were difpofed for information, and not too vio- 
 lently difgufting thofe who were not*. This way 
 of teaching is of all others moft apt to raife, and 
 to keep up the attention, and let each faculty of 
 the mind on work : it gains the eafieft admiflion 
 into both head and heart ^ it ftrikes the deepeft; 
 flicks the longeft; gives moft delight, by leaving 
 fomething for the hearers themfelves to difcover; 
 and difobliges leaft, by putting them upon mak- 
 ing their ov/n application. On thefe accounts it 
 has been admired in all ages, and nations, from 
 the beginning of the world ; and was particular- 
 ly celebrated in the eaft («). This, among many 
 
 other 
 
 • See he Clerc, Harm* p. 185. The fame tiling is elegantly de- 
 fcribed, and well applied^ by the author o( Dialogues concerning Edu- 
 cation, p. 363, &c. The like may be obferved of the m2iny figurative 
 cxpreffions, which our Saviour ufes upon fomeoccailons. See Clagett 
 upon "Joh iv. 
 
 On the fame account it wasj in all probability that he fo generally 
 chofe to exprefs himfelf in the very words of fome a.ncient prop^etf 
 more efpecially in matters that were like to give offence. And to 
 the fame purpofe it has been obferved, that he never fpoke in Para- 
 bles at all, ti.l the yeivs had manifefted ftich a wicked and perverfe 
 fpirit, as to afcribe his miracles to a confederacy with Beelzebub, 
 BenJon*s Life of Chrift. c. 7. f 1,2. An aafwer to the pretended 
 obfcurity of them may be feen, ib. J3. p. 266, &c. 
 
 {w) Jerom on Matf.xiv, Whitby on Ma//, xiii. 10. Nicholses Conf. 
 Vol. I. * It was the cuftom of the wife men among the ancients, to 
 cloath their inftra£lions in apt ftories and fuitable comparifons : fuch 
 is the parable of Jotham, and that very apt one oi Nathan to David t 
 this they did, at once to pleafe, and toinftruft ; to excite men's at- 
 tention by gratifying their curiofity; and to quicken their memory 
 
 Xz by 
 
2 24 Refeciions on the 
 
 other excellent ufes to which Chrift applied it, ill 
 a manner the moft delicate and mafterly, was 
 peculiarly fitted to infinuate fuch points, as more 
 immediately oppofed the prejudices, or the incli- 
 nations, of all thofe to whom Chrift preached ; 
 and which, though necelTary for them to be ap- 
 
 prifed 
 
 by entertaining their fancy. Our Saviour took this method to re- 
 commend his weighty inllrudions, and make them fink deeper into 
 the minds of his auditors. The fame method was likewife very pro- 
 per for another purpofe, 'viz. to deliver the myfteries of the gofpel 
 \vith fome degree of obfcurity and referve ; which he did, both to 
 excite men's indullry in fjarching further into the deep things of 
 God, and withal to punilh the floth and negligence of thofe, who 
 grudge twking any pains to learn God's will, and their own duty. 
 This^reafon, you may find, our Saviour himfelf afligns, why he fpake 
 to the multitude in parables. Matt. xiii. lo, &c. 
 
 Thcfe were the reafons, why our Saviour chofe to convey his in- 
 flrudtions in parables. And we may obferve in general concerning 
 them, firft, that they have a pleafing ^variety, fuited to men's differ- 
 ent apprehenfions and capacities ; and in the next place, that there 
 is an extraordinary decency ; and, if 1 may fo exprels it, 2l getiteelnej}^ 
 which runs through them all. Our Saviour puts the cafe in all his 
 parables on the charitable fide ; and makes the mod favourable re- 
 prefentation of things which the matter will bear. In the parable of 
 the ten ^virgins, he fuppofes the number of the wife to be equal to 
 that of the foolilh. [bee Tillctjln^ Serm. 31.] In the parable of the 
 loji Jherpy he fuppofes but one of a hundred to go aftray ; and yet the 
 goo(iJJj(phtrdis content to leave all the reft, and go in queft of the 
 lingle Itraggler. In the third place, there is an exadl decorum obferv- 
 ed in all Lhrill's parables, and every thing that is fpoken is fitted 
 to the character of the perfon who fpeaks it ; a beauty which the 
 critics look upon as the greateft ornament of a poem ; and which of 
 itfelf is fuihcient to make it heard or read with delight and admira- 
 tion : and therefore, I hope, it may recommend our Saviour's para- 
 bles to the nice and delicate talle of our modern wits ; who are apt 
 to think every thing in fcripture fo mean and flat, as not to be 
 worth their reading.' Lczvib, Dir. p. 185, &c. Les paraboles que 
 'jefus Chrijl emploie excellent fur toutes Ics autres en ce qu'elles 
 font fi naturelles et fi vraifemblablcs, qu'elles ont I'air de vcritez 
 plutot que dc fid\ions. On n'y voit point les animaux, ni les plantes, 
 former des converfationsenfemble. On n'y trouve rien d'iinpofliblc, 
 ri de ridicule, ni de monftrcux, comme dans Talmud^ ou dans 
 VAhoran. Tout y eft fimple et tire d'apres nature, 5tc. Jaqucht, de 
 la Verite, &c. p.'3i8. Comp. Lamy^ Harm. p. 24S, 253. & L'g'tf* 
 in M.dt. xiii. 3. or Harm, c 3 1. fci^.j;. or Boum^ on fome Parables, 
 Introd. 
 
 Life and Charciaer cfCHR IS T. 325 
 
 prifed of, fo far as might help afterwards to 
 reconcile their thoughts to thefe things, when 
 they were able to recollea: that they had been 
 intended, and foretold from the beginning ; yet 
 were not at that time to be hid down in a more 
 open, direa manner : fuch as related chiefly to 
 the external circumflances of his perfon and 
 dodrine ; and the efFeas thereof, upon both Jew 
 and Ge?2tile^. 
 
 As to the fundamental parts of his religion, 
 and his manner of declaring them; both thefe 
 were eafy and obvious, fuch as the weakeft and 
 moft ignorant (unlefs afFeftedly fo) could not 
 miftake; and propofed in that pla'n, popular way 
 to which they were moft accuftomed, and in which 
 they would be moft likely to apprehend him (A): 
 
 ♦ Vid. Jaquelot, p. 319, &c. 
 
 T L^\!^t'/i'" ^" V"^^"" ^^"'P^' ^^ "'^^^"^ loquitur. Lightfoof, Op. 
 f^nnols r/-|-^'^5io. One of tlie beft of our Co1n4n;ator. 
 fuppofes Cbnjf, not only to adapt his difcourfes to the common lan^ 
 guage of the time ; but alfo to accommodate himfelf to the -vuhar 
 notions and optmons upon fome occafions. Vid. C/mV. inZ^i^ xvi. 2? 
 24. What you fay about critics and critical interpretations, par-' 
 ticularly of the fcnptures, is not only in my opinion true, but of 
 great ufe to be obferved in reading learned commentators; who not 
 feldom make it their bufinefs to fhew, in what fenfe a word has been 
 
 t"orl .r^i ^."^^^,^^ V^'h;^f^^ ^he proper bufinefs of a commenta- 
 tor is to fhew in what fcnfe it was ufed by the author in that place • 
 which in the fcripture we have reafon to conclude, was moft com- 
 monly in the ordinary 'vulgar fenfe of the ^vord or phrafe kno^a:n in that 
 ume- becaufe the books were written, as you rightly obferve, and 
 adapted to th, people If critics had obferved thisfwe Ihould have"^ 
 tiieir writings lefs oftentation, and more truth ; and a great deal of 
 
 V^t^nTJ r''\rr ^Kf'"P^"^^^ h^d been avoided.' Locke, 
 \rn}U cd' '^^9. ^^>^, No. 2o.-Comp. Doddridge, Fam. Exp. 
 r^ cVa }f^' P'^7. n.2. and fTetfen, de Interpret. N.T. Vol.11. 
 p. 876. and below p. 409. -The not being willing to attend, or to 
 
 nrl'n^.f •"' ^^7^^^%^°^ '^^'* ^^^ occafioned ChM^s grofs mifre- 
 prefentation of fome of our Saviour's precepts, in his piece llyled 
 J^^marh on Scripture. (Pofth. Works, Parti.) As an adhering ftriaiv to 
 
 ^ 3 the 
 
'^26 RifleBions on the 
 
 And it IS worth remarking, that wherever his 
 words feem capable of ditFerent fenfes, we may 
 with certainty conclude, that to be the true one, 
 wliich lay moft level to the comprehcnfion of 
 his auditors; allowing for thofe figurative ex- 
 preffions, wiuch were fo very frequent and fami- 
 liar with them j and which therefore are no ex^ 
 ceptions to this general rule, this necelTary canon 
 cf interpretation, which of all others, I think, 
 wants moft to be recommended. 
 
 The bulk of his doClrine was of a praftical 
 nature, always pertinent to the cafe in hand, 
 and of an immediate and apparent tendency to 
 
 the 
 
 the literal fenfe rnufl be very abfurd in the interpretation of 2. popular 
 phraj'e, in all parts of t'lie wcrld, and the moft common ground 
 of mifapprehenfion ; fo of all things it is the moft unreafonable m 
 one that pretends to give us the true fenfe of Eajlern writings : 
 which are fo well kaov/n to abound in general, with brief maxims ; 
 parabolic or proverbial exprefilons ; and extremely popular forms 
 of fpeech ; (vid. Aflize Serm. at Carhd?, on Matt. v. 40.) where fuch 
 alow, dry, minute, and ^emingly accurate way of reafoning and 
 difcourfingi fuch a dull, tedious detail of circumftances and re- 
 flrainino- claufes, as is in ufe with us ; would have been little relidied 
 or regarded ; and which were it to the purpofe, might be eafily 
 iuftified in point of certainty and ^erfpicuity ; fmce to one who is 
 tolerably well acquainted with their ftyle and language, the mam 
 drift lies commordy very obvious under all thefe ftrong and figni^- 
 cant, however highly figurative, and bold exprefiions. Nor is there 
 ^ny great diffipulty in fujpplying all the proper qualifications, which 
 of courfe arifc in every lubjeft ; and will have an allowance made 
 for them, fo long as either cognmon fenfe, or common equity and 
 candor is admitted ; fince in fuch writings there is never any parti- 
 c\x\2d ftrefs placed in ^ords^ to the prejudice or exclufion of it ; as is 
 perhaps too much the cafe in mofl of our modern la^jj-forms ; where 
 a I' ng train of circumlocutions is \tx^ apt to cloud and ftifle, rather 
 than clear and afcertain the fenfe ; and which, by fhcwing that fa 
 great a weight is laid upon the terms, inftead of avoiding, ufually 
 tend to mal-e a multitude of difficulties. 
 
 An inftanceof C^&a^^'s abufeofone fuch difcourfe of our Saviour's, 
 may be fe-n above, p. 311. note ((?); the reft have been fo often 
 anfwered. that a mere Englifti reader cannot be eafily miftaken ia 
 them. A particular examination of them may be fcen iii Leland^t* 
 View of Dtiftical writers, Lett. xiii. 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIST. 3 27 
 
 the moft beneficial purpofes * : and he is fo far 
 from feeking reputation by an artful and elabo- 
 rate manner of explaining it; that he feems barely 
 to propofe each point, together with its proper 
 fan6lion, and leaves it to fhine forth by its own 
 light -f*. 'Tis neither verfed in any nice, fubtle 
 fpeculations, nor involved in pompous paradoxes, 
 nor adorned with flowers of rhetoric. We find 
 it free from all oftentatious and unnatural fiights, 
 as well as from that load of fuperftitious rites, 
 and flavifh ceremonies, which encumbered every 
 other fyftem : confifting of folid and fubftantial 
 duties 'y containing general, comprehenfive rules 
 to try them by ; and grounded on fuch never- 
 failing principles of a6lion, as muft quickly en- 
 able his difciples to determine for themfelves, and 
 judge aright in each particular cafe: as in that of 
 the Sabbath ; which, like all other folemnities, 
 was inftituted for the fake of man ; and therefore 
 fhould be made fubfervient to his good % ; and 
 in that, to the glory of his Maker, which are in- 
 feparable from each other. In meats and drinks^ 
 and every thing, by confexjuence, of the fame 
 
 kind; 
 
 » i 
 
 Nothing is more remarkable in the whole hiftory of the gofpel, 
 than our Saviour's general method, that whenever men propofed to 
 him any curious ^ueftion, or related to him any particular faft or 
 event, in expectation of hearing his obfervations upon it ; he con- 
 (lantly turned the matter before him into an occafion of giving fome 
 prailical inftruftion to the perfons them/el'ves with whom he was con- 
 verfing.* Clarke's Serm. on Luke xiii, 2, 3. where many inftances of 
 this are produced, 
 
 f This is to be underftood of Chrijlh original propofal of any doc- 
 trine to fuch of his auditors as were tolerably impartial, and before 
 objedions had been made. See Gerardh Diftertations on the Evi- 
 dence of Chriftianity. Diff. i. feft. 3, 4. 
 
 X Mark ii,2y,\i^. Cleric. 
 
 X 4 
 
I 
 
 •i 
 
 328 Rejlc5liGns on the 
 
 kindf ^ which, as bemg merely external things, 
 muft likcvvifc be of an indifferent nature ^ and 
 therefore could not of themfelves defile a man %. 
 In that of caths^ the feveral kinds whereof were 
 really of the fame import, as including the fame 
 virtual appeal to God; and therefore muft needs 
 be of equal force, and fliould alike exclude all 
 fraudulent, evafive artifices ||. In that of ^-00^:'$^ 
 which bind only to things otherwife innocent at 
 leaft, and by which none ever could exempt them- 
 felves from duties of a prior, and perpetual ob- 
 ligation §. In that of contraBs, more cfpecially 
 the great, general one of matrimony, which 
 ought not to be raflily violated by either party, 
 or diffolved for any caufe lefs than fuch an one 
 as proves inconfiftent with the very foundation 
 and original end thereof, v. g. fornication or 
 adultery ^ : and by that univerfal rule, of nicrcy 
 being preferable to facrifice, whenever a vicral and 
 apofifive precept interfere with one another 4- 
 
 Such do6lrine muft appear, not only excellent 
 in itfelf, and taken independently ; but more ef- 
 pecially fo, in the circumftances under which it 
 was delivered: as fully obviating the feveral falfe 
 maxims, and fallacious gbfles, advanced by the 
 Jewifi teachers of our Saviour's time : in which 
 
 refpect 
 
 f Ccl, W. 21. 
 
 X Matt, XV. 18. Mark vii, 1 5. See Light/, Harm. p. 237. 
 
 11 Matt, xxiii. 16, &c. § Matt, xv. 6. Mark vii. 11. 
 
 * Matt, V. 32, &c. compared with i Cor, vii. 15. and IVoif, ib. 
 Vol. Ill, p. 407. That this fliould be undcrltood rather as a capital 
 injlanc^, than as the fole retraining claufc of divorce. Vid. Kyrke^ 
 Obf. Sacr. Vol. I. p. 25. PW in loc. p. 166, 167. or Whitby op, \ 
 Cor, vii. 15. 
 
 4- Matt, ix. 13. xii. 7, 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIST. ^ig 
 
 refped it muft be doubly ufeful, as an inftruc- 
 tion in truths of the laft importance ; and a guard 
 againft fo many popular errors ; and may be con- 
 fidered as another inftance of his exquifite man- 
 ner of accommodating things, both to the gene- 
 ral benefit of mankind, and the particular exi- 
 gences of his hearers. 
 
 Laftly, our Saviour's whole difcourfe and way 
 of arguing, muft carry fomething of a peculiar 
 force and poignancy along with it, and be at- 
 tended with extraordinary degrees both of con- 
 viction, and aftoniftiment; as he knew thorough- 
 ly what was in man^ and therefore could fpeak to 
 his heart direftly * 5 and needed, not that any 7nan 
 fmdddl\\QV afiz him, or inform him of any thing: 
 as he faw into the moft fecret thoughts, and pur- 
 pofes, of all thofe whom he had to deal with) and 
 
 often 
 
 • Matt, ix. 4. xii. 25. Mark ii. 8. Ix. 33, 34, 35. Luke v. 22. vi. 
 8. ix. 47. xi. 17. John vi. 61, 70. xvi, 6. 30. Seeother inftances 
 in Clagett on Johi vii. 33, 34. La7ny, Harm, on John v. 14. p. 272. 
 Ben/on, Life of Chrift, c. 5. fed. ii. iii. An^ Light/, on John i. 48. 
 — Harm. p. 535. When thou nxjaji under the fig-tree, I /aiu thee, * This 
 feemeth to refer, not only to his being under the fig-tree, but to fome 
 private and fecret aftion that he did there, and for which he went 
 thither : and as our Saviour convinceth the woman oi Samaria, that 
 he was the MeJJias, by telling her of her evil adions that (he did in 
 the dark and fecret ; fo doth he Nathanael, by hinting fome good 
 things that he hid from the eyes of men under a fig-tree, before Pht^ 
 //> light on him there; as praying, vowing, or fome other adion 
 which none knew of but himfelf : and this appeareth rather to be the 
 matter which Chrifi aimed at, and which worketh in Nathanael for 
 his conviaion; becaufe it was poffible that Chrifi might have been 
 near the fig- tree himfelf, as well as Philip ; and he might fee Nat ha- 
 naeU and Nathanael not fee him ; and fo might Nathanael have fup- 
 pofed : but when he telleth of fome fecret adion that pafTed from 
 him under the fig-tree, which hjs confcience told him, that no mor- 
 tal eye could be confcious to but himfelf; then he cries out, T^hou. 
 art the Son 0/ God, &c. Comp. Macknight, Vol. I. p. 47. On the 
 whole condud of Chrifi in this interview with Nathanael^ fee Hun- 
 ^^r's Obfervations, c, 3. fed. i. 
 
2 3 o ReJieSliofts on the 
 
 often fhewed them plainly that he did fo, by re- 
 moving the latent prejudices of his weaker friends, 
 and obviating their feveral doubts and difficulties, 
 as theyarofe in their own minds; before they durft 
 give utterance to them -f- : by anfwering fuch ob- 
 jections as had been made only in private, or at 
 Icail out of his hearing * : by refuting every plau- 
 sible pretence, and laying open the moft artful 
 ftratagems of his inveterate enemies j detecting 
 their hypocrify, expofing their true aim; and 
 thereby cutting off all poffibihty of reply : on 
 which account his word muft needs be quick and 
 fowerfuly andjioarper than any two-edged fword. — ' 
 In this refpetSl too it might well be faid, ?iever 
 man [pake like this man %. Many inftances where- 
 of will occur upon a diligent perufal of the gof- 
 
 pels. 
 
 Thus 
 
 f Comp. ^chn xvi, 19, 30. et Cleric, inyohn xi. 22. This may 
 perliaps be fome ground for imagining that the evangeliils applied 
 the common phrafe of Jf/us aufwered, with a peculiar propriety, 
 even when he is only beginning or continuing his difcourie, and no 
 fort of quellion appears to have been afked, Matt, xi. 25. — xxii. i. 
 LukevW, 39, 40. — xiv. 3, 5, &c. See BoyUy on the Style of the 
 Scripture, p. 88. 
 
 • This feems to have been the cafe in John vii. 15, 16. — xxvii. 
 28. and many other places, where that circumflance is not exprefled. 
 Comp. Luke xxii. 61. and note *. p. 329. 
 
 t * So faid the officers, who were fent by the chief Priejis and 
 Pbari/ees, to apprehend 'Je/us, John vii. 46. When they were come 
 to the place where ye/us was teaching, probably he, knowing the 
 errand upon which they were come, fpoke fo home to their confci- 
 ences, to their particular thoughts and prefent views ; that they had 
 no heart to execute their commiffion : though what our Lord then 
 faid is not recorded.' Ben/on^ Life of Chrift, c. 5. fed. iv. See feve- 
 ral texts explained by the confideration of ye/us his knowing the 
 hearts of all men, and that he could talk to their thoughts, as we 
 do to each other's words, or aftions. lb. feft. x, xi. Comp. Har- 
 n.vocd^'i new Inrrod. to the N. T. c. 8. fed. I. where many ingenious 
 obfcrvations occur to the fame purpofe. 
 
 Life andCharaSterofCHRIS'f. 331 
 
 Thus did Chrijl live, and teach : (hewing him- 
 felf as much fuperior to the reft of the world in 
 each of thefe refpefts, as he did in his miracles. 
 
 There was a wondrous man among the Greeks^ 
 who has often been compared to Ckrijt, and confi- 
 dered as a kind of type of him to the heathen * ; 
 there being a great refemblance between them, 
 in fome remarkable particulars. Socrates lays out 
 all his time in going about to admonifli and re- 
 form his countrymen ; ^hich, he afTures them, 
 was a tninijlry enjoined him by tlie Deity f, for 
 their benefit; to whom he fuppofes himfelf 
 given, ox fent by God t; with theutmoft firmnefs 
 bearing all the injuries, and defpifing the affronts, 
 to which he was continually expofed on that ac- 
 count. He conftantly reforts to places of public 
 concourfe, and generally grounds his difcourfes 
 
 on 
 
 * Marcili-us Ficinus atque Svmphorinmts Champerius in Socrate typum 
 Chrifli, cjufque paffionum, fibi invenifTe vifi funt. Sed ut hi quidem 
 plus quam decebat illi tribuunt, ita virum fuifle fumma fapientia 
 prxditum, qui provida haud duhie numinis cura exctatus tuit uC 
 fuperftitionis craffiflims tenebras difpclleret, veramque virtutis viam, 
 quoufque rationis lumen pertingit, Gracis monilraret, negari nequit. 
 Budd. Hift. Eccl. Tom. II. p. 859. 
 
 fjin^o* uyxOof yen^ui tf rn -zsroXe*, n rvv sfAnv ru 0JW rUHPEZlAN. 
 Flat, Apol. feft. 17. p. 91* Fojler. 
 
 Efioi h T**To «\ tyc, (priA.^, nPOITETAKTAI jno TOY 0EOY 
 
 ':to^.iKo(,ia.\-Kri^na, fjiOi^oc uv^^uttu xsct olinv ir^oa-slx^'.'reocrisiv, lb.fe6t.2 2. 
 X Nw av, u av^^iq A6)3vato», irroXXy ^iu tyu vtts^ s^avry aTroXjystcSj 
 -•- «XX« vTrt^ viMuv, [A.n t^a(jLoc^r'>]l£ 'Rtp^* rr,v ra 0=a AOXIN y/A»v, g^n 
 xet\a•^ft(p^lTce.l^iVQ^^ — Eilu top Aoiorov %popoy oixriXoih ccv Kx^.voo?t;, u 
 furt Tt»» aXXor y/xiv o Geo; EniHEMYETZ, xnJofAEi'Ci vi^-t^V' *Oti ^'^ lyui 
 tvy/^ocvu uv Toialo;, otoj Jtto Ttf 0ey T^? ccroAei AEAO10AI, tvdside av 
 XCLlav6naenlt, Ov yacQ ccvB^u)7nvui soncs to ^i.^ ruv /:«k sfAa-JTa UTrcct^ruv 
 rfC£Xf)X£»a(, xxi av£;^£fl35 Twy oixnm a/iAEXtff/.;*'^;"' roa-.xjrx v^rj tJTy to ^£ 
 iiiA.i]t^ov 'VJ^of.'rlikv ecu, t^ta eftxrui -crpocriovTa, ujtro-:^ -araTega m a.h.h^09 
 %sr^ia^vT£^ov, cstQoyTa g7r»/x£X£io^ a^ETj;;, Ibid. feet. Iw. 
 
5 
 
 I 
 
 ft 
 
 332 Refe£iiom on the 
 
 on what occurs there; making ufe of eveiy place, 
 and feafon, and occafion, to exercife and incul- 
 cate his philofophy || . He choofcs a ftate of po- 
 verty, to clear himfelf from all fufpicion of private 
 intereft, and make his charafter more unexcep- 
 tionable, by fliewing that he himfelf pradifed what 
 he taught 4-: he avoids meddhng with tlie affairs 
 of the public ; decHnes pofts of authority amongft 
 them J as thefe in fuch bad times, muft have pre- 
 cipitated his fate, before he had done them any 
 confiderable fervice*. He perfevercs in fifting 
 and examining them, in order to dete6l their ig- 
 norance and prefumption -f-, and to mortify their 
 pride, on all occafions; and declares that he muft 
 perfevere in the fame courfet, even when he 
 clearly forefaw that the lofs of his life would cer- 
 tainly attend it § : nay, that he would continue 
 this courfe, though he were to die ever fo often 
 for it. When merelv out of envv he is dcHvered 
 up to his enemies, and on a moft malicious pro- 
 fecution brought to his trial ; inftead of having 
 recourfe to the ufual way of fupplication, and 
 
 ap. 
 
 fc>?r, 19 'cre^tTraTtf rot? yj-w^tixoK T£Tay/X£v»jy ffXarTwi', ctXXcc xca ^ai^uv, 
 0T» Ty%ot, xui cviA.itivuv, xoti avT^cHEvoutvoq linoic, xcci avvccyo^u^u'Vf ti- 
 ?co$ ^£ non avv^soifAivo^, x«» tuivuv TO (poc^fAUXov, £^iAoac!p£i. Ufulo^ aTTO- 
 ^£tfa? Tov ^iov aTravli x^^^V* *** /*£?"» «<*» 'nrcc^to'i, xxi -cr^a^/^tacrt? 
 uTT^.ui uTTUffi ^iXoao^iuv ^ex^iA,evov. Plutarch, E» 'or^icQvliPu -nroXi- 
 
 4- Vid. Plutarch, Advcrf. Colet. Op. Vol. II. 
 
 ♦ Ov yot^ «r»v or»? uv^fco'Truv cu^nadetit t/le vynv^ yii ocX>,u a^m <srA)j- 
 Bh yvr,(7iu(; i>avIitf^£vo?, xen ^iuxuXvm 'cjo'hhoi, a^ixa xon iffetfavofjLx tv 
 rn cd-oXej yiyv£^» etWct, etvayxctiov £r« tcj ov]* /xa;:^a/x£yov v'tt^^ tu oixam, 
 xoLi f( /XfXXai oXtyor ;(;povoj» cu^ri^icX^y iSicJltvuv, uWx /it>} $V(AOffnvuU 
 Plat, Apol. Socrat. feft. 19. p. 96. Fojler. 
 
 t Plat, Apol. fea. 9. J Ibid 
 
 5 Xencph. Mem. Lib. iv. lin. 
 
 Life and CharaBer of CHRIS'T. 333 
 
 applying to the paflions of his Judges ^ he proves 
 to them, that they ought not to admit of any 
 fuch application i he informs their reafon, and 
 appeals to their confciences 3 and proceeds only fo 
 far in his own defence, as would be juft fufficient 
 to aflert his innocence^ and ftiew them the grt^tfn 
 of perfecuting and oppreffing it. Inftead of ufmg 
 or permitting any other means to avoid his death, 
 he fignifies that it was free and voluntary in him, 
 becaufe it was become necefTary for the w^orld; 
 and meets the inftruments thereof with the ut- 
 moft calmnefs and ferenity J. 
 
 He left none of his philofophy in writing, but 
 took good care, as he faid, to imprint it deeply 
 in the hearts of his difciples ; which fome of 
 them delivered down to us ; [though in a man- 
 ner very different from that fimplicity, and ftrift 
 propriety, with which the gofpels are recorded :] 
 and, indeed, the effefts which his inftru6lions, 
 and example, had upon them, were prodigious |[. 
 
 Some other circumftances might be pointed 
 out, were we to draw a parallel between thefe 
 two, confidercd merely as philofophers. But not- 
 withftanding any fuch, and without derogating 
 from the charafter oi Socrates-, we ftill may affirm, 
 that he was far furpafled by CHRIS T^ as well 
 in the importance of the doftrines taught, as in 
 the candid, clear, convincing manner of delivering 
 
 them ; 
 
 £ iXEw? *at tffcoLuc, e rpEcra?, not ^iu(pBufotq «^6 ;^^wf*a]o? ahv, nS» 
 '%*jfAa/o?, ^atX «vxoX«(j fleTrifp, Plutarch, Ei avlufxr,; r,xukia -©^oj ita» 
 Ko^aiiJLOinxv, Op, Vol. II. 
 
 JJ Vid. Chjrjfc/itler, Life of ^^rr- 
 
 c 
 
^ ^ J. RefeSiiojis en tlje 
 
 them ; and in that purity, and general perfe6llori, 
 which diftinguifli Chriftianfty from every other 
 
 lyftem. 
 
 ^'^fr^/^j defcends fometimes to trivial fubjefts; 
 and often trifles in purfuing others ; neither at- 
 tempting to give his hearers information in them ; 
 nor fo much as pretending to have received any 
 himfclf : he wraps up his difcourfe in fubtle in- 
 tricacies, as beft adapted to his principal defign 
 of (hewing men that they knew nothing: difputes 
 pro and con^, puzzling and perplexing thofe 
 with whom he argues ; and feems more ftudious 
 to confute what they maintain, than to eftabUfh 
 any do6lrine of his own : inftead of clearing up 
 their doubts, and opening his whole mind to 
 them ; he conftantly makes ufe of captious in- 
 terrogatories > to enfnare and draw them into dif- 
 ficulties y and is ever mixing ridicule and fatire 
 with his reafonings ; which, though it fuited but 
 too well with the general turn and temper of that 
 lively people; thongh it afforded great delight to 
 feveral of his followers j and ferved to attach 
 them the more ftrongly to him : yet it was furely 
 gratifying a wrong tafte in them, and giving 
 much unneceffary offence to others (B.) — But 
 
 that 
 
 * Vid. C/V. deOr. HI. i8. 
 
 (B) Of this kind feem to be the fneers on Anytus, about maintain- 
 ino- himfelf by privately working at the trade of a leather-dreffer» 
 wfi'ich he had not a mind to own ; which made that fame Anytus be- 
 come one of Socratesh mod bitter enemies : and his perfifting m re- 
 proaching Af.yius on that head, after notice given him that the aftiori 
 ihould be withdrawn, if he would but forbear the mentioning it ; 
 was perhaps a chief caufe of the profecution being carried on with 
 fo much pique and violence aeainlt hiiiit See Stanley, Hift. Ph. Part 
 6 ^^ 
 
 Life and CharaSler of CHRIS "T. 335 
 
 that was Socrates s talent : and his employing it 
 fo much, has given great occafion for that 
 charge of vanity, which fome have brought againft 
 
 him *. 
 
 His method of difputing, however admired by 
 his contemporaries, and celebrated by moft others 
 fmce, yet muft be ov^ned to admit of many fo- 
 phifms y to be calculated rather for confounding, 
 than convincing an opponent. 
 
 His gejiitiSy or damouy whatfoever be underftood 
 by it, though upon fome occafions it fhould be 
 allowed to guard him and his followers, from 
 evils of fome confequence; yet on others, it feems 
 to intereft itfelf in very low affairs f , and which 
 were hardly Deo digjia-y fuch, as its giving them 
 warning not to go through a certain ftreet, in 
 which they were to meet fome fwine, and fpoil 
 their cloaths J: in matters of the greateft import- 
 ance it leaves him under the higheft uncertainty; 
 fometimes it feems to degenerate into downright 
 
 fa- 
 
 11. p.31,53. iftEd. I cannot therefore quite approve of his /><?«/, 
 in this and many other inftances, notwithftanding he Clerc's plauii- 
 ble defence of it. Silv. Phil. c. 3. fed. 2. p. 181, 192. 
 
 • *Ot» }i ^o|»}? » %pr Kxlap^nvtw T»j? 'BTx^ct ruv croXXwv, 'Euxpocrm 
 
 o(u9 iirom' xoci e^y6 ruv ex£»»« Xoyuv e/xTretpo* nrs, moT^vv av rov vnsp rt?- 
 nruv ix^vYtercc XoyovyXXi t^etfa ctoXXjjv 'craf avloi; rr^v i^fuvcia.v.(eiyi ok o 
 fAaG»jltJ? avla Xtye* ixru^it^en XC") ««» '"^"'^ "'^^ Ksvc^opx; craiOa ccvrta 
 r» y^ufA^xlot. T>!» varo06a-»i» £%£». Cbryfoji, Hom. 36. in Ad. cap. 17^ 
 Ed. Eton, Tom. IV. p. 813. 
 
 f Havw «rt«y»j cbe( »}>, «a» 'aa.vv i.'ir\ ff\*.\it^o\q ivavritJii^ivn* Plat. Apol. 
 Socr. 31. 
 
 X Plut. de Gen. Socr, See a like inftance about Cr/Vo's Eye^ in Cic. 
 de Div. i. 54. In what fenfe could the late author of his life un- 
 derftaiid this tfiq;Ine call, when he fuppofes it to extend to indijprenf 
 affairs F p. 90. 
 
-^^6 RefeSiions on the 
 
 fanaticifm; and, after all, perhaps, was merely 
 
 fancy, or fiction §. 
 
 Socrates was very far from oppofing either the 
 fuperftitious principles, or practices of the Athe- 
 nians with that freedom and fimplicity, that open- 
 nefs and zeal, with which Chrijl taxed thofe of the 
 "Jews: on the contrary, he always conforms, and 
 gives countenance to them. Nor does he declare 
 againft then* moft predominant, and not irreput- 
 able vices ; but rather, it muft be owned, often 
 goes very groflly into the language of them ; un- 
 lefs we admit the favourable apology made for 
 him on this article, by throwing the whole blame 
 on one of his difciples *. He appears publickly 
 to plead his own acknowledgment of their divi- 
 nities, and approbation of their eftablifhed wcr- 
 fhip f \ both which were abominable ; and often 
 
 treated 
 
 5 OuzeU Animadv. in Min. Fel. p. 154. Though fo much de- 
 ference is due to the authorities produced on the other fide by a 
 learned friend, and to his own opinion more than all of them, that 
 they muft be referred to. See Jortinh Remarks on Eccl. Hilt. Vol. 1. 
 
 ^'•^^Vitia erant qus ufque adeo graffabantur inter Athenienfes, ut 
 omnes tandem eorum depuduiflet. Ejufmodi erat ncfanda i"a 7r«»- 
 ^e^ar.a, qua plena funt non comicorum tantum. fed etiam philoio- 
 phorum, et Plaionis quidem, fcripta. Ea re mc valde ofFenfum fa- 
 teor; et quia non putabam Socratem ejufmodi flagitu reum efle po- 
 tuilTe, totam rem in Platonem conjiciebam; qui magiftro verba mu- 
 tua forte dediffet, qualibus nunquam ufus erat. Commotus eram 
 judicio non veterum tantum Chriftianorum, qui tz\i^ Platom expro- 
 braverant; fed etiam ipforum philofophorum ethmcorum, corum- 
 que 5crr^//et/'/^/c/;/benevolentium. M^^/VwwTynus Difl. viii. earn 
 in Socratem adcufationem profert, quam eluere omni arte conjitur, 
 cum in ilia, tum in tribus fequentibus Differtatiombus ; ftd, ut 
 mihi quidem videtur, non fatis commode. Clenc. Silv. Fhih c. 3. p. 
 190. Epiaaus is exprefs and warm in celebrating SccraUi s uncom- 
 mon virtue in this rcfpeft. Diff. L. li. c. 18. ^4. 
 
 t Via. Plat, et Xcn. Apol. comp. RoUin, A. Hi ft Vol. IV. p. 260. 
 Ouis Igmfuperftitiones^^^///^r«»: audeatreprehendcre,quas 6.rr^/fx 
 Menis auaoritate confirmavit fua? laftant, de Falfa Sap. Lib. 111. 
 JO, comp. AV». Mem. Socr. i. 
 
 Life and CharaEier of CHRIS T. ^^37 
 
 treated accordingly upon the ftage (r) ; and which 
 therefore no fuch excufe, as that of avoiding to 
 difturb the publick peace, or not offending the 
 weak minds of the people *, or obviating perfe- 
 cution; ever can juftify. He performs his de- 
 votion to the fame deities in private -f- ; and in 
 his laft moments (A), either betrays an appre- 
 
 henfion 
 
 (r) Numberlefs inftances of this occur in an eminently moral 
 writer, and one of our philofopher's particular friends, Euripides i 
 who has, with the utmoft freedom, repeated the feveral vile ftories 
 of the gods and goddefles; accompanying them with as (cwtrQ re- 
 flexions ; and thefe introduced frequently under none of the worft 
 of his characters ; and this, fo far as appears, without offence. 
 That he diftinguiflies the true God from this rabble of poetic dei- 
 ties, may be feen in many remarkable paffages, v. g. Here, fur. ver, 
 i34i,&c. 
 
 "Eyu }i Ttf? $E8? are Xexlp', a /^trj <&€ftK» 
 2Tepr«»»' vofju^u, h(T[juxr' e^aTtletv X^§o»y, 
 Oyl* li^iucra. tc-cJTroT, art <zzrE((7o/xa», 
 OvS* aXXov aXXa ^tffvolviv mi^vJCivcti, 
 Atilon yac^ o ^£0?, eitte^ $r* ovluq S«of, 
 
 Comp. Sophodis Fragm. ap. Grot, excerpt, vet. Com. et Trag. p. 
 148. 
 
 • Cooper's Life oi Socrates, p. 166. 
 
 f Plat. Ph^d. 5 4. et in fin. Themijl. Or. 14. D, Laert. Lib. ii. 42. 
 So far was he from being a martyr to the unity of the divine nature, as 
 is generally afferted. Concerning which (t^LeClerc's Sih. PhiloL to 
 j^fch. Socrat, c. 3. p. 177. and Cudivorth, Int. Syft. Lib. i. c. 4. f 
 23. N. 8. p. 482. Mojhem, 
 
 (a) Some fuppofe his ordering the facrifice of a cock to have been 
 a ridicule on the ftoical fuperftition, mentioned by Cicero pro Mur^e^ 
 tiJt c. 29. N- n minus delinquere eum qui gallum gallinaceum cum 
 opus non fuerit, quam eum qui patrem, fuffocaverit. Others ima- 
 gine him to be delirious, from the opiate drug he had taken. Jortin^ 
 Rem. Eccl. Hift. Vol. L p. 95. Dr. Heberden\ MS. LeSures on Poi- 
 Jons, in which many vulgar errors are judicioufly exploded. The 
 moft favourable account is that of Ben/on. Life of Chrift, p. 91. n, 
 a. * It might be at Athens a well known cuftom to offer a cock to 
 jEfculapius, the god of medicine, upon a perfon's recovery from fome 
 thrcatning indifpofition. And ccnfequently, to have offered a cock 
 to jE/culapiusy and to have been reftored to health from a dangerous 
 difcafe, were exprcifioni: of the fame import, by putting the fign for 
 
 Y .the 
 
^ ^ 8 Rejledtiom on the 
 
 henfion of fome criminal negleS towards one of 
 them ; or contents himfelf with continuing the 
 fame ftrain of ironical humour in refpeft to 
 them, which he indulged in other fubjeasj or 
 left the world uncertain what he meant (e)- 
 
 From thefe flight ftriftures on a charafter juftly 
 reputed one of the mofl: complete among mere 
 men ; when it is placed in oppofition to that of 
 Chriji our Lord, 'tis eafy to diflinguifti which has 
 thelidvantage §; as is freely owned by fome mo- 
 dern unbelievers *. The fame thing would ap- 
 pear more clearly, were the latter to be drawn out 
 at large, and ftiewn together with any other of 
 the moft celebrated lawgivers, and teachers. But 
 fach a comparative view feems to be little necef- 
 
 fary to its illuftration. 
 
 And 
 
 th- thine fienified. P/^/«, in the perfon of ?h^do, informs us, that 
 xvheri Socrates found the poifon had invaded his bowels; that is to 
 fay, when he found himfelf upon the point of expiring, (and they 
 were the laft words) that he fpake to Crito ; • I owe a cock to ^Z- 
 culatius, which I defire you would pay. Do not negleft it q. d. 
 I am iuft upon the point of being cured of all the diforders and pains 
 attending this mortal frame; and of entering upon a better lite; a 
 ilate of perfea health, and happinefs. And I defire you would 
 thus publickly fignify my belief and perfwafiop, to the whole city 
 of Athem, in that way which they are all acquainted with, and well 
 underfland.* 
 
 f E) Perhaps after all his fublime fpeculations on the nature of the 
 d-ity, Socrates might be as much in earneft in his worfhip of the 
 fubahern divinities, in order to be on the fafe fide ; as his admirer 
 Caro feems to have been, when he gives his wife direttions to make 
 their acknowledgment to the very fame god for his recovery. XcX^sr 
 a;,.«%vnoauejeci. Statim ita fum levatus, utmihi dcus aliquis me- 
 di-inam feciffe videatur. Cui quidem tu deo, quemadmodum foles, 
 pie et cafte latisfacias ; id eft, Apollini et jEfcutapio. Ep. xiv. 7. 
 
 5 This may be feen at large in Macknight'^ Truth of the Gofpel 
 Hiftory. 
 * See the parallel in Roujfeau^s Treatife on Education, and /W- 
 
 ?d/'C*s EfTay on Toleration, C. 14. 
 
 Life and Charadler of CHRIST. 339 
 
 And I content myfelf with only touching on 
 fome few of thofe remarkable circumftances in the 
 life of J E S U S, which were recorded by his firft 
 difciples, as the fgns and evidences of his being 
 the Son of God; which brought fo many to be- 
 lieve on him at that time, and which one would 
 think fufRcient to produce the fame belief in every 
 age ; as they have aflually done, both with the 
 generality, where-ever they have fairly been pro- 
 pofed to them ; and with the beft, and wifeft men, 
 who have given thenifelves leave duly to refleft 
 upon them. 
 
 Y 2 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 NATURE and END 
 
 O F 
 
 DEATH 
 
 UNDER THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN COVENANT. 
 
THE 
 
 NATURE and ENDo^DEATHy 
 
 UNDER THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN COVENANT. 
 
 H E B. II. 14, 15. 
 
 For a/much then as the children are partakers of jlefli 
 and bloody he alfo himfelf likewife took part of the 
 fame-, that through death he might dejiroy him that 
 bad the power of deaths that isy the devils and 
 deliver them who through fear of deaths were all 
 their life-time fubjeSi to bondage. 
 
 TH E author of this epiftle had in the fore- 
 going part of it been proving, that both 
 Chrift, who janBifieth the world, and they who were 
 fan£lified by him, were brethren^ the hxatfeed of 
 Abraham *, and aUke children of the promife 
 wherein all the nations of the earth were to be bleff^ 
 ed. He had obferved Hkewife, that in order to 
 difcharge this office, and procure the intended 
 bleffing; there ought to be an exa£l conformity 
 between them, in their ftate and circumftances : 
 
 y 4 whence 
 
 * jt. 16. 
 
1' 
 
 344 ^^^ Nature a?id End of Death 
 
 whence he infers, forafmuch then as the children 
 [mankind in general] are partakers of flep and 
 blood [ov mortal by nature;] healfo, who was to be 
 the captain of their fahation^ mujt likeivife take part 
 of the fame, and fuffer in it ; that he might not 
 only fliew them, how death was to be overcome 
 in this very nature; but aftually procure an abo- 
 lition of it ; and thereby utterly difappoint him, 
 who had prevailed fo far as to invoh^e each of 
 them in it; and thought to have entailed it on 
 them irrecoverably : — that by fubmitting to this 
 for a while himfelf, Jefus might for ever refcue 
 all his brethren from it; and at length raife them 
 to the fame ft ate of glory which he now enjoys : 
 — That it was a work highly worthy of infinite 
 wifdom and goodnefs; or (as the apoftle feys) 
 be came him for ichom are all things, and by whom are 
 all things, in bringing many fins to glory, to make 
 this wonderful humiliation of their head a ne- 
 ceffary ftcp thereto; that he [Chrift] by the grace 
 of God, or through the love of the Father f , fjould 
 tafte death for every man\ and thereby, as it is in 
 a parallel placet, deliver the whole creation from 
 the bondage of corruption, under which they had 
 frroaned, and travelled in pain together, until now ; 
 and thus defeat and vanquifh our great adverfary, 
 who had fo long fubjefted us to fuch a ftate of 
 vanity, and mifei^; and finally exalt the world 
 to the higheft degree of happinefs and perfection, 
 
 by 
 
 f 'Job, iii. 16. 
 
 X Rom,^n\. 22. Comp. Heh. IL 14, 15. A continual apprehen- 
 lion of being for ever under the dominion of Death, is the bondage 
 Of ilavery here naenticned, Sykes^ ib. 
 
 under the Ghrifiian Cove?ianf. 345 
 
 by that very thing, which had been introduced in 
 order to debafe and ruin it. Thus, by once un- 
 dergoing this laft evil incident to our frame, he 
 has taken off its force; and gained a final viftory 
 over it : this death is now difarmed of all its ter- 
 rors ; and man delivered from that moft fervile, 
 abjeft ftate of anxiety and wretchednefs, to which 
 the ancient heathen were, and we muft have been 
 unavoidably reduced ; as being conftantly fenfi- 
 ble of its continual approaches towards us ; and 
 having no profpeft of being ever freed from its 
 dominion over us. This is the true import of 
 thzt great falvation, we obtain through y^i Chriji-, 
 which, whenever it is well under ftood in the 
 world, will be judged worthy of all acceptation. In 
 order to which, let us take a farther view of this 
 important fubjeft ; which I propofe to confider 
 more diftinclly, under the following heads of 
 enquiry: 
 
 I. In what fenfe we are delivered from death by 
 the fufFerings and death of Chrift. 
 
 II. Why fo much of the power of death is ftill 
 permitted to continue in the world. 
 
 III. What notions of it are now proper and 
 agreeable to the Chriftian ftate. 
 
 L In what fenfe are we delivered from death by 
 the fufFerings and death of Chrift? 
 
 In order to determine this, it will be neceflary 
 to attend to the true meaning of the word death y 
 as it is ftriclly and properly applied in Scripture: 
 
 and 
 
1^ 
 
 346 T'he Nature and End ^ Death 
 
 and this may be beft feen, by looking back to the 
 remarkable paffage where it is firft ufed, in that 
 denunciation which brought Adafn and his pofte- 
 rity under it; and where we muft fappofe it ufed 
 in all the plainnefs, and propriety of fpeech ima- 
 ginable. And accordingly, we find the original 
 here -f-, as full and emphatical as words can make 
 it. They are tranflated, Thou fhalt ficrely^ — 
 but might with more propriety have been ren- 
 dered, Thou flialt utterly die X- Which one would 
 think fufficiently explained in the fentence paffed 
 on our firft parents ; where they are reminded of 
 their original, and of that ftate to which this 
 change ftiould reduce them. /;/ the fweat of thy 
 face Jhalt thou eat breads till thou return unto the 
 ground ; for out of it wajl thou taken : dujl thou arty 
 and unto duJl JJjalt thou return. Now what do we 
 imagine they could poffibly underftand by this, 
 but a refumption of that natural life or confcious 
 beings which their Creator had been lately pleafed 
 to beftow upon them ? the forfeiting which muft 
 neceflarily include a total lofs of all thofe benefits, 
 that then did, or ever could proceed from him. 
 This furely, and nothing lefs, muft be implied 
 in that moft folemn fentence: nor can we well 
 conceive the unhappy fubje6ts of it, to have been 
 
 at 
 
 t nilSn niD Comp. Gen, xxxvii. 33. Ex, xxi. 19. where the 
 
 fame conftrudion llgnifies entirely^ totally. 
 
 X Athanafius thinks, that the doubling the expreflion denotes M»» 
 fAOVov awofit-jjo-xn*, olWou Km tv rvi ra ^avara f 9o^a ^ixyavnv, [L, de 
 Incarn. verbi] He fhould not only die ; but remain in ilie corruption 
 of death; as we Ihould all have done, had not \\\^ fecond Adam ob- 
 tained for us an happy refurredlion. V id. Patrick on Gen, ii. 17. with 
 Tajhr*$ Scheme of bcript. Div. p. 104.* 
 
 under the Chrijlian Covefiafit. 347 
 
 at that time fo very ingenious, as to explain it 
 away, by diftinguilhing upon the feveral compo- 
 nent parts of their conftitutionj and concluding^ 
 that by death no more was intended, than only 
 a feparation of thefe parts, while one of them v/as 
 ftill living in fome different inanner^, or that it was 
 a continuation of their confcioufnefs, and real 
 exiftence, in fome other place. No : this was the 
 philofophy of after ages: concerning which, all 
 I ftiall fay at prefent is, that fome of its moft 
 eminent patrons cannot help obferving, that they 
 don t find it in the Scriptures [z.] Thefe, in their 
 obvious meaning, reprefent the "dohole man, indi- 
 vidual, perfon, or being; as included in the fen- 
 tence addreffed to him ; nor do they feem to take 
 notice of any other circumftance in the cafe, be- 
 fide that, fo often mentioned, of his returning to 
 the dufl., or ground from ^whence he ijoas taken -f- : 
 
 and 
 
 [z] Tillotfon, Vol. IT. fol. Serm. ico. This is very tenderly 
 
 cxprefled; and the reafon that great author ^ives for it. not unfuit- 
 able to the prejudices of his time: whereas if he had ccnfidered the 
 point more fully, I prefume, he would have found the Scripture, nor 
 takingthis natural immortality for granted'^ but rather laying down the 
 contrary, and the NewTeilament every where infifting on it, as the 
 very ground of the whole Chrillian covenant ^ through which alone, 
 we attain to immortality, or everlajiing life. In order to form a 
 better judgment of this, we mull examine the Scripture-language 
 more particularly; and fee what all thofe feveral terms, and phralciv 
 may imply in the original, which are fuppofed to include the doc 
 trine above mentioned: For which, fee the Appendix. 
 
 f Gen, 'in, 23. * As the threatmng was only in general, Thou 
 Jhalt die ; aad it does not appear by the hiftory, that man had any 
 notice given him oi fpi ritual death, (or the neceflity offnnivg) noi 
 of ^/^r«/i/ death, (i. c. a neceflity and eternity of /or/7^«/) fo it would 
 feem furprifing, if it had not been often faid by fome men, (which 
 was yet never proved by any) that death, natural, fpiritual, and 
 eternal, was threatned. Jeffery, Seled. Difc. p. 22. « When Adam 
 was told that if he offended he ihould die, he could not then under- 
 j iland 
 

 l» 
 
 1 t 
 
 348 T*he Nature and End ^ Death 
 
 and might not the firft pah* as well expeft, that 
 the fame breath of life^ ivhich the Lord God had 
 breathed into their nojirih ; whereby man became a 
 livi?ig fcuhy fliould ftill furvive the execution of 
 that fentence ; or that the dujl itfelf fliould praife 
 Gody as that any kind of knowledge of, or com- 
 munication With him, fliould continue in that 
 ftate of darknefs, and defl:ruction, to which they 
 were tlien doomed ? 
 
 Thus did death enter into the world, and reign 
 in it, through that o?ie tranfgrejfion. — Let us in the 
 next place fee how this reign is defl:royed j and we 
 delivered from it by the obedience of our Lord : 
 . Which will appear more clearly, from the date 
 of that deliverance ; and this is every where repre- 
 fented in the fame Scripture, as commencing at 
 the refurreBion ; nor can any thing elfe confl:itute 
 the oppofition above-mentioned : for if death be a 
 return to diijly then nothing but a reviving^ or a 
 refufcitation from that dull, can be the reverfing 
 of it ; or a proper recovery from it : and accord- 
 ingly, to this, and this alone, St. Paul confines 
 the contrafl:, he has drawn at large between the 
 firfl: and fecond Adam, Since by man came death, 
 by man came alfo the refurreclion yrc>;;/ the dead^ 
 and as in Adam all die \ even fo in Chrift Jhall all 
 be mcde alive -f- \ which Hfe is, not an inherent 
 
 pro- 
 
 ftand by Death a future punilhment after Death, but rather an an- 
 HJhilationof his foul, and adillolution of his body, and a returning 
 to the fame infenfibility from which he had been called into being.' 
 "Jortin, Serm. Vol. VH. p. 283. 
 
 f Which words, (as. a .very competent judge of Scriptnre-Ian- 
 guage has ailured us) dhe^llj ajirm^ * that a reiurre^on, or being 
 
 madt 
 
 under the Chriftian Covenant. 349 
 
 property of our original nature; but 2i free gift to 
 us *, promifed, and procured by Chrift; and ac- 
 cordingly termed the grace, or gift of God, and the 
 gift by grace y through fefus Chrijl our Lord -f- : who 
 on that account is pleafed to ftile himfelf the re^ 
 furreSlion and the life % > who is called our life || ; 
 and faid to have the keys of hades ^ aiid of death ; who 
 
 opens 
 
 made alive again, is granted, affured, and executed, by, and in Chrift 
 alone; and evidently fuppofe^ I. That the dead are not madeali^vey till 
 the re/urreSiion; for the refurretlion of the deady and being made ali've^ 
 are here expreffions of the fame fignification. 2. That, had not a 
 refurreBion been provided, we fhould nenjer after death have been 
 made ali've,* Taylor^s Script. Doftr. of Orig. Sin, p. 24. Comp. Dod^ 
 dridge ovijoh, lii. 15. Fam. Expof. Vol. I. p. 154. and Jefferfz Se- 
 led Difc. p. 64. 
 
 The fame thing is very properly termed by Bifliop Sherlock [Difc, 
 ii. p. 76.] a calling men from the grave into being ; or the making dead 
 bodies into living men ; p. 300. which fecond creation of all men, by 
 our bleiled Saviour, his lordihip jullly parallels to the calling them, 
 cut of nothing at the firft creation ; or the relloring to them that life, 
 fivhich he at fir ft gave ; ib. or the calling man into life again y out of the 
 fame ftate of duft, and afhesyfrom vuhich he <was at firft formed a living 
 foul, ib. Difc. vi. p. 209. 
 
 Add Id. Difc. Vol. H. p. 207. * He— goes down— to the grave, 
 and his iniquities follow him; and will rife with him again, when 
 God calls him to appear and anfwer for himfelf.' ib. p. 278. The 
 fear of death can be allayed by nothing, but the hope of living again; 
 ^ death is a fteep from which we expert to v;ake to immortality.'— 
 The fame notion is confiflently purfued by his lordihip ; Ufe and Intent 
 ofProph, p. 69, 75,91, 93, 116, 118, 142, 143,239, 240. 2d Edit. 
 
 That nothing elfe but this compound beings which is wholly deftroy- 
 ei by deaths and whofe conftituent parts are renewed at the refurreSiion^ 
 can, with any propriety, be denominated man-, fee in the fame emi- 
 nent writer, ib. p. 86. — What infurmountable difficulties have arifen 
 from confidering thefe conflituents feparately, may be feen, ib. p. 
 Id, &c. 
 
 'Tis fomething furprifing to think, that a mere rational mind 
 fhould be the fame individual with a wazr, who confifls of a rational 
 mind, a fenfitive foul, and a body. This carries no probability 
 with it at firft fight; and reafon cannot undertake much in its be- 
 half, ib. Difc. p. 204. 
 
 • John V. 40. vi. 33, 51, 57. X. 10, 28. xiv. 6, 19. xvii, 2, 22. 
 t John ii. 25. V. II, 12, 13. 
 
 t Rom. V. 14, 15, 16, 17. vi. 23. viii. 2. The refurredlion of the 
 dead, through, or in Jefus, Mis iv. 2. I Cor, xv 22, 57. 1 Pet, iii. 7. 
 
 X John xi. 25, II Col, iii. 4. 
 
M 
 
 ; CO Ihe Nature and End of Death 
 
 opens for us the true and only way to immorta- 
 lity, through the gate of the refurreBion-, and 
 wl'thout whom there is no admiflion to it; but 
 the nvrath of Gcd abideth on us *. So far is it from 
 truth, that immortal life may be difcovered by 
 the light of nature; that on the contrary, we are 
 taught to believe, it was Chrift only, who abolijh' 
 ed death, and brought immortality to light by his Gof- 
 p^l; _ that the heathens, ignorant of this, have 
 no hope-, or no ground for their hope f ; and that 
 if there were no refurreftion, the very beft of 
 men, even they who ^ve fallen ajleep in Chrift, are 
 perift:ed%. But now Chrift being himfelf rifen 
 from the dead, and thereby become the firft fruits 
 cf them thatjlept', we are as fure of our own re- 
 furreaion, as that he our head is rifen for us. 
 Hereby we become children, or heirs of the refur- 
 reaion^ and have an infallible title to immortal 
 life, through this adoption-, that is, the redemption 
 of our hodv \\. We know, that we fliall not now 
 perifb for ever \; or be M; but live in him; or 
 (as he himfelf conftantly explains it) be raifed up 
 again at the laft day §. We may *with boldnefs now 
 approach to God, by a living way, which Chrift hath 
 £onfecrated to us through the vail-, that is, hisfteft): 
 
 through 
 
 • Johnni. 36. , J 1 J- 
 
 f « Scholars may reafon of the natyrc of the Soul, and the condi- 
 uJn of it when feparated from the body ; but '^'^l^'^f^TtDifc 
 nature receive no fupport from fuch inquiries.' Bp. Sherlock Di^c 
 Tv\< We die and moulder to duft ; and in that ftate, what we 
 are or where we are, nature cannot fay. Id. ib. Vol, IV. p. 79- 
 
 t The true import of this phrafe, and the argument from jt ;|^ 
 rA cttabliihed by Mr. JLxn^der, Paraphr. on 1 Cor. xv. p. 28, &C. 
 ' j{ ^c.fl. viii.23. 4- 74«x. 28. 
 
 ^ yo/:n iii. 16. - — vi. 39, 40, 44. 
 
 under the Chriftian Covenant. 351 
 
 through him we have gained the victory \ may 
 join in St.Paurs triumph over death and the grave\\', 
 and have all infinite reafon to exprefs our grati- 
 tude for it, with the fame apoftle; thanks be to 
 God, who giveth us this victory , through our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift. But, 
 
 adly. If death be vanquifhed, why then doth 
 fo much of its power ftill fubfift in the world ? 
 Why is this paufe permitted in the courfe of our 
 exiftence; and life dropt awhile, in order to be 
 thus refumed.^ How comes it to pafs, that we 
 don't rather live on ftill , than die, and rife again ? 
 •: — as fome underftand the former queftion in St. 
 Paul^, from the diftinft anfwer, which he gives 
 to it under this diftindl view; viz. that in the 
 common courfe of nature here, the decay and 
 diffolution of things precedes a revivifcence {that 
 which thou foweft is not quickened except it die ;) — 
 that fuch a change of ftates is neceffary ; and — 
 that it would be as fooUftd to expeft the contrary 
 
 m 
 
 II I Cor. XV. 55, 
 
 5 I Cor. XV. 35. Tla% tyi\^ti)trii.i of vex^oi; Why are dead men 
 raifed to life again ? or how is it that fuch perfons ihall be 
 recalled into being who now are as if they had never been ? See 
 Locke on the place, note h. who feems to have given the firft hint of 
 adjufting the above queries to their replies ; though we are forry to 
 obferve a piece of confufion in the fame note, very uncommon to 
 that accurate writer, occafioned by his inverting the order of the 
 fame anfwers juft after he had ftated them, and thereby appearing to 
 poftpone the 36th verfe to thofe that follow. Other commentators 
 are forced to admit the twofold queftion, yet in handlifig the firft, 
 either run it into a foreign enquiry about th^ pojjibility of the thing, 
 or fmk it into the fecond, as wholly relative to the manner of eftedli|ig 
 it. That the word era.? may with equal propriety be rendered ivhy^ 
 as well as ^^^y will appear fufficiently from the parallel places, Matt, 
 xvi. II. xxii. 12. Mark iv. 40. viii. 21, &c. in which paffages it 
 feems to bear the very fame fenfe as ^»a ti, and in feveral others 
 both of the N. T. and other writers, when it is ufed interrojgatively. 
 
 lid 
 
't 
 
 m 
 
 352 T'/je Nature and End of Death 
 
 in this cafe; as to expe6t that corn fhould grow 
 up, without any of that alteration in its texture, 
 which is occafioned by the change of feafons *. 
 
 Let us proceed then, to enquire into the pro- 
 priety of our either living on ftill in the prefent 
 ftate, or being removed into fome other, without 
 fuch a change as death produces. 
 
 As to the former, 'tis plain, that in what ftate 
 foever mankind were originally made, they could 
 not have fubfifted always in the prefent world; 
 at leaft, not been fupported in fuch numbers, as 
 now take their turn there, and fupply each others 
 places in fucceeding generations + : the inhabi- 
 tants of this globe then muft have been confined 
 to a few; or thefe been frequently removed, both 
 to make room for others, and by way of advance- 
 ment to themfelves ; without any of that pain or 
 perturbation, anxioufnefs or dread, which ufual- 
 ly attends the conclufion of their prefent life. — 
 How far this might have been the caie, had man 
 continued, as he came out of the hand of his 
 Maker, holy and innocent, we cannot eafily fay ; 
 but are very fure, that when this innocence was 
 loft; when fm had entered, and evil habits fpred 
 and propagated themfelves in the world; men 
 were neither fit to live on in it, as long as they 
 pleafed; nor to be removed out of it in fuch a 
 way, as might prove moft agreeable to them ; 
 
 but 
 
 • Comp. John xii. 24. 
 
 fjLn i'^t^aycjci, T» tt7roA£»7rtr«»; Arrian, Epiact. Diff. p. 5S8. t'Ctit, 
 Uftot, 1741. 
 
 Tender the Chrijltan Co'vena?it, 353 
 
 but rather were to be held in a more rigorous 
 ftate of duty and dependence; in order to induce 
 them to prefei-ve themfelves and others, their due 
 time, in exiftence here ; as alfo put them on the 
 moft efteftual means of attending to, and mak- 
 ing fome provifion for a better ftate. 
 
 If after a long time fpent idly in this prefent 
 world, each of us were fure of being lightly re- 
 moved into fome other region; we ftiould in all 
 probability be no more concerned about it, than 
 at taking a journey into fome foreign country: 
 Or could we at any time, without either pain, or 
 the apprehenfion of any, quit our abode here, 
 and convey ourfelvcs to the realms above ; how 
 ready on every flight occafion would each be to 
 difpatch himfelf, or others thither ! how raftily 
 would they rufti into their Maker's prefence, how- 
 ever unqualified and unprepared to meet him ! 
 Or muft the fovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth 
 be obliged to fend his mefTengers (as he did to £- 
 Ujah) for our conduft, whenever we may be dif- 
 pofed to change our ftation ? How highly inde- 
 cent and incongruous this ! how unworthy of the 
 Divine Majefty; and ill fiiited to the nature of 
 man! who, though he be endowed with large 
 capacities, confideiing whence he fprang fo lately; 
 and placed in high rank in the order of creatures, 
 fo many clafl:es of which are entirely fubjea to 
 him; yet is he at his bcft eftate, of but a very 
 limited underftanding; and by no means quali- 
 fied to have the abfolute dilpofal of himfelf; or 
 to be fully let into the manner, how he is to be 
 
 Z dif- 
 
"54 
 
 'fbe Nature and End of Death 
 difpofcd of in a future ftate ; which if he were 
 at prefent able to comprehend, he would be like 
 to make no proper ufe of that piece of knowledge : 
 It may be neceffaiy therefore to have fuch a vail 
 drawn over the whole, as is now done by death ; 
 while man is fixed here for a time, in a ftate of 
 difcipUne and probation ; under general laws, to 
 be forefeen, and in fome meafure influenced by 
 himfelf > and of which therefore he may avail 
 himfelf fo far, as to enjoy a good degree of pre- 
 fent happinefs ; as well as fit himfelf for fome fu- 
 perior ftation, when he fhall be called to it. Here 
 he is firft produced, and formed to ad a part up- 
 on this ftage; a fhort one indeed, but fuch as may 
 in general be fufhcient to conftitute a real cha- 
 racter; and lay a jufl: foundation for eternity: 
 then the fcene clofes in fo fevere and folemn a 
 manner, as mufV, if any thing can poffibly, alarm 
 him; and excite fome more than ordinary vigo- 
 rous'endeavours to prepare for his appearance in 
 the next; which is of infinite confequence, and 
 opens with a public trial ; when all perfons fliall 
 be gathered from all quarters of the world, and 
 ftand together before the judgment-feat of Chrift ; at 
 once to receive their doom for all things done m 
 the body, at what diftance of time foever; and to 
 which their refpedive deaths configned them. 
 
 Farther ; Such a difpenfa'tion as this of death, 
 however difagreeable to us, is yet in our prefent 
 circumftances of great and general fervice ; and 
 the apprehenfion of it abfolutely neceflary for 
 mankind, confidered either, as hi a flate of na. 
 ^ural 
 
 under the Chrijlian Covenant i '^SS 
 
 tural culture, and training up for any tolerable 
 fociety with one another here; or, in order to 
 prepare them for a higher flate of moral happi- 
 nefs, and mutual fellowlhip of faints and angels 
 hereafter. The frequent warnings of it are of 
 no lefs ufe, to check the enormous growth of 
 wealth and power, in any one particular; and 
 thereby cut off the very extenfive views, and curb 
 the hardy attempts, of arbitrary and afpiring 
 men : — to keep the balance even among the fe- 
 veral orders, more efpecially the higher ones; and 
 prevent that tyranny and opprefTion, \v\i\c\\ \vo\x\A 
 naturally attend the long projefted fchemes of 
 overthrowing it;— to reftrain the exorbitant de- 
 grees of vice and villainy in thofe of lower fla- 
 tions, by the various terrors of it, and its vifible 
 infliftion ;— to correft the fallies of intemperance, 
 and abandoned lufl, by bringing their effects io 
 frequently to view; — by being the moft power- 
 ful means of breaking wrong aflbciations, and 
 reforming evil habits ; fmce this is the very ftrong- 
 eft and moft general alarm, raifed and colleaed 
 froni all quarters of our conftitution * ; — by 
 putting us upon roufing ourfelves from floth and 
 fupine negligence, and recoUedling what an un- 
 certain ftate we are in ; — by preventing our being 
 ever wholly immerfed in the low cares, and funk 
 under the load of any crofTes and affliaions of 
 this tranfitory life; —helping us to raife our 
 thoughts and expectations to a better; and en- 
 abling us to keep them more intent upon it ; to 
 
 fix 
 
 • See Hartlcy'% Effay on Man, Vol.1, p. 466. 
 
 Z 2 
 
356 The Nature and End of Death 
 
 fix our hearts there, where our real trealure licsj 
 
 and whither we arc in fo fenfible a manner, daily 
 
 haftening[H]. 
 
 Thefe are very obvious 7noral confiderations ; 
 and feem to be of Ibme weight towards juftify- 
 ing this branch of tlie divine oeconomy, in fut- 
 fering death, and the general apprehenfions of 
 it, to prevail in fuch a world as ours. Nor are 
 there perhaps others of lefs moment, which make 
 it nafurally fit, and neceflary, for fuch difordered 
 and corrupted bodies as we bear about us, to be 
 
 totally 
 
 ruT * 111 general, to nil mankind Jcafh is no fmall benefit, as it 
 increaferh the vanitv of all earthly things and fo abateth their force 
 to tempt and delude; hath a tendency to excite fober reflections; to 
 induce us to be moderate in -ratitying the appetites of a corruptible 
 body; to mortifv pride and ambition; and to give a fenfc ot our 
 dependence upon God. And when death, at too great a diitance, 
 was not fufficient generally to gain thcfe important ends ; when 
 mankind abufed a life prolonged near a thoufand years to univerfal 
 excefs and violence; [GV^. vi. 12, 13.] God was pleafcil after the 
 deluge, to vary this dilpcnfation, by (hortening our days ; and gra- 
 dually reducing them to threefcore and ten, or four fcore years Ana 
 if the corrupt morals of the Jnteailwvians were the occafion of this 
 reduaion of human life, (as feems mod probable) then it will be 
 true, that asDEATH entered into thcn.vorhlby AdamV/w, fo the h ast- 
 r MNC cf death, or ihortnefs of life, entered into the zvorld, and came 
 u,on all men, by the fin of that vicious generation ; and by their dtj- 
 Mieme, we are all again fo far made Jhiners', not as a punilhment 
 ^for their fm ; but, we may well fuppofe, in mercy and goodncls : 
 Thar the wild ran^e of ambition and lull, might be brought into 
 narrower bounds, and have lefs opportunity of doing milchief; and 
 that death, being fet ilili nearer to our view, might be a more pow- 
 erful motive to regard lefs the things of a tranfitory world, and to 
 attend more to the rules of truth and wifdom.— Thus I judge of the 
 p.efent ihortnefs of life; and we cannot err much, if at all, it we 
 think that God, upon occafion oi Adum\ fin, appointed our hie frail, 
 laborious, and forrowful ; and at length to be concluded by death : 
 not to puniib us for another man^s fm ; but to leflen temptation, and 
 to promote bur fpiritual good: For in feveral places the Scripture 
 dircaiv affirms, that afflidlion and fuffering is the chaftifement ot our 
 Heavenly Father; and particularly applies our common mcrtahty 
 
 under the Chrijlian Covenant. 357 
 
 totally diflblved > in order to eradicate thofe traces^ 
 which may have been formed by irregular and 
 in\titV3X.tdJ[ociatio?iSy and which could not other- 
 wife have been reverfed ; even on the moft fmccre 
 repentance, and refolution of returning to a 
 better conduft : that io^ fm might not be im- 
 fnortal in our bodies y but thefe being moulded 
 anew, and thoroughly refined and redlified ; might 
 become more commodious habitations, or more 
 fuitable companions, for the fpirits of jiiji men 
 7nade pcrfcB \ might be changed from natural ho--- 
 dies to fpiritual. And if fuch change be necef- 
 fary, as we are taught to believe it is, by the belt 
 authority*; it feems to be but of fmall confe- 
 quence when^ or in ivhat manficr it be made; whe- 
 ther we are to Jleep firft, or be found like thofe 
 of the laft generation : fmce the times of our dy- 
 ing and rifmg again are, in reality, coincident 'f; 
 and our change therefore alike momentary: nor 
 will this fleep be any more to us than the twinkling 
 cf an eye; neither fhall thofe that remain u?tto the 
 coming of the Lordy preve'nt us who vfti't fallen ^- 
 feep\ or enter into the joy of their Lord before us; 
 but both we and they fhall, at the found of the lafi 
 trumps be caught up together^ to meet the Lord in tlje 
 €iir^ and fo be ever with him J. 
 
 But how many ufes foever of this fort may be 
 afligned for death; we are ftill to remember, that 
 it muft be a moft iiflperfeft fketch, a faint difco- 
 very, of fome few of the various ends of Provi- 
 dence 
 
 10 
 
 cl 
 
 ) the forementioned good purpofes. StcPfal. xxxix, xlix, xc iic- 
 'y. i, ii, &c/ rajhr\ Script. Dear, of Orig. Sin, p. 67, &c. 
 
 * I Cor. xV. ^o, 
 X I Cor. XV. S'>S2- 
 
 f See Taylor on Rpm, p. 334. 
 I Thef. iv. 15, ^'C. 
 
 ^ 3 
 
358 'J'he Nature and End of Death 
 
 dence in this immenfe plan ; whereof fo very 
 fmall a part at prefent Ues before us; a more 
 complete difplay of which,will probably conftitute 
 no inconfiderable portion of our future happi- 
 
 nefs, when 'vse jlall hww, even asive ourfehes are 
 kiioivn; when our ickcle Jpirit,foul, and 6ody,JI:all 
 be prefented hhmelcf, at the coming of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jefus Chriji. Which brings me to con- 
 
 ficler, 
 
 3dly, What notions of death are now proper, 
 
 and agreeable to the Chriftian ftate. 
 
 Now this refults from, and has been in a good 
 degree anticipated under the foregoing heads. 
 
 For if among the heathen, whom the apoftle 
 points out in the latter part of the text, the great 
 dread of death, and that perpetual bondage con- 
 fequent thereon, arofe from their furveying it as 
 the laft evil, which put a period to their whole 
 exiftence ; [many of them contending that rt did 
 fo [0] ; and none, as we have feen, having ground 
 fufficient to convince them of the contrary;] we, 
 who are taught to look upon it in quite another 
 light, ought to be affefted with it in another man- 
 ner. To them indeed death had a terrible found, 
 and could not but be attended with a train of the 
 moft melancholy refleaions ; whenever they were 
 
 forced. 
 
 
 c 61 Comp id. lup. p. izz« "• L"'J * *'"• ^^' **• ^*"* " * ^* / * 
 Tii.c".56. £.Ep. ?4.7«.99- If Confol ad ?»/.c. 27. etadilW 
 c ,0. Epim. Arr. L. iii. c. 24, Celjus ap Ongcn. L. v. Plutarch. Q^,. 
 p loq. E. Comp. Cleric, in Eccl. iv. i,3. Id^lMj on i Tim. i. 10. 
 CampkU, Neceff. of Uev. $ 4. 
 
 under the Chrijlian Covenant . 359 
 
 forced, (as they were frequently) to entertain the 
 thought of it. .This would unavoidably be mix- 
 ing with their entertainments of all kinds ; and 
 when it did fo, would as unavoidably allay and 
 fpoil their relifh ; which we find fome of them 
 confefling and complaining of %- This was the 
 fword continually hanging over their heads by a 
 fmgle hair ; the fpeftre always haunting then- 
 abode ; which, whatever fome profeffed libertines 
 might pretend, would caft a fudden damp on every 
 joy; it would leave no prefent gratification free 
 from pain and uneafinefs ; and as to any future 
 profpefts, through what a gloom muft each con- 
 fiderate perfon view thefe, which were all to be 
 cut off fo very foon, and either clofe in abfolute 
 extinftion; or, if he Hiould be called to fife again, 
 that Ufe commence a Hate of punifhment and 
 fuffering; to which, he muft be confcious, he was 
 but too liable! In this cafe, how could man, even 
 a comparatively wife and good man, contemplate 
 himfelf any otherwife, than as 'walki?ig all his life- 
 time inavainfiadow, and at laft lying down in fir- 
 row and defpair ! 
 
 But how entirely is this fcene changed under 
 the Chriftian difpenfation ! What a different ap- 
 prehenfion muft we have of death, when we know 
 that it is fo far from injuring any of our nobleft 
 pleafures, or deftroying our beft purfuits, that it 
 rather puts us into a capacity of enjoying them 
 
 more perfeftly ; and opens a way to our more 
 
 free. 
 
 t C/V. Tufc. CLi- "> 13- — <l« Fin. 1.38. 
 faxum Tantalo, fcmper jmpendet. 
 
 Z 4 
 
 — Mors, quae quafi 
 
360 
 
 It 
 
 T'he Nature and End of Death 
 
 free, full, uninterrupted profecution of them, to 
 eternity ! A way, which though, for reafons inti- 
 mated above, it muft be in fome meafure gloomy 
 ftill ; yet is there little left to terrify -, much to 
 fupport and comfort us, when we come into the 
 f:adow of this vale of death ;— enough to brighten 
 up its horrors, and convert them into a crown of 
 glory 5 — to make us even rejoice that we are got fo 
 near it ; from whence we may fafely view thofe 
 blifsful feats of paradife, that are prepared to re- 
 ceive us 5 — and to which it conducts us. The 
 heathen had at beft but feeble arguments for, or 
 rather fome faint gueffes at, and wifties of, an 
 Hereafter s and in the mean time were tofled to 
 and fro in uncertainty, among their feveral con- 
 fufedfyftems; fluctuating in perpetual doubts; 
 and on each difappointment, ready to give all up, 
 and fly even to the moft miferable of all comforts, 
 final infenfihility, for refuge *. How vafl:ly differ- 
 ent is our cafe \ who have fo firm a ground of 
 expeflation to rely on ; and that ftrong confola- 
 tion which refults from it, in all difficulties ! Who 
 can at all times lay hold on the hope that is fit before 
 us, as an anchor of the foul, bothfure andjledfajl \ God 
 himfelf having given us not only exprefs promifes, 
 in ivhich it is impojjiblefor him to lie ^ but alfo many 
 infallible proofs, and aftual infl:ances, of what the 
 generality of them were ufed to think impoffible j. 
 
 ♦ Vid. C/V. Confidercit. n. [B.} p. 122. Portus rnim prxfto efl, 
 atcrnum nihil fcntienti receptaculuin. Id. Tu/c. Difp. v. 40. 
 
 X Plin, N. H. L. ii. c. 7. ib. L. vii. c. 55, Celf. ap Orig, v. p. 
 240. M, Anton, xii. ^. See M^hiihj oa I Thef. iv. 13. and Halla'^ 
 Difcpurles, Voi. I. p. 298. 
 
 361 
 
 under the Chrijlian Covenant. 
 
 a refurreSiion from the dead. And though, as be- 
 ing partakers of fiejh and blood, we are flili tiatu^ 
 rally mortal ; nor was it Chrift's intent to alter 
 the whole frame of our nature inflantly, by tran- 
 flating us into fome different order of Beings ; 
 as he muft have done, had he freed us from all 
 natural corruption; and which (as we have i^zw 
 above) would have been highly improper, fo long 
 as there were the feeds of moral corruption yet 
 remaining in us : but he chofe rather to improve 
 it gradually, and procure a proportional enlarge- 
 ment of its privileges ; as he did in the moft ef- 
 feftual manner, by laying hold of the fame na- 
 ture himfelf; and lifting it up, firft from fin, by 
 his doctrine and example ; and then purchafing 
 for it a releafe from its prefent forrow, pain, and 
 dlfTolution, by a life of perfect innocence, con- 
 fummate virtue, and complete obedience unto death. 
 And thus, by the mediation of the fecond Adam, 
 are we delivered from the worft and moft dread- 
 ful part of the fentence on the firft; that which 
 denounced death abfolutely, and indeterminately; 
 and thereby left man in a ftate of unlimited fub- 
 jeftion to it ; or rather, is this death, which though 
 in one fenfe it ftill preferves its power over the 
 world; and will and ought (as we have feen) to 
 preferve it, during the whole of this probationary 
 ftate ; and like wife on account of that fin where- 
 of it is the great correftive, has ftill the appear- 
 ance, and the name of an enemy, {the la/l enemy 
 that f mil be dejiroyed is death;] yet is it, I fay, to 
 us become a very different thing from what it 
 
 was 
 
362 I'he Nature and End of Death 
 
 was to our firft parents, and the generality of 
 their offspring; before the dawning of that pro^ 
 fpeft, which our Lord has opened by his coming 
 in the fleih. 'Tis now fo far from the extinction 
 of our Beings that it becomes the great improve- 
 ment, and the exaltation of it: 'tis no more than 
 a paflage from a mixed, imperfeft, to a pure, and 
 perfea portion of felicity; the end of all our la- 
 bours in one ftate; and the beginning of our re- 
 compence in another. In which view, God will 
 not appear either to have made all men J or nought', 
 or fuffered them to be entirely fubjeft unto ^amty 
 even here : the prefent life, however frail and 
 tranfitory, if thus taken in relation to, and as 
 connefted with another ; is very far from being 
 anufelefs, or contemptible gift: much may be 
 done in this bad world, if we but make a proper 
 ufe of it ; towards rendering ourfelves meet to be 
 tartakers of a better : the ground of the heart may 
 be prepared; the feed of virtue fown ; the hea- 
 venly plant fo far produced and forwarded ; that 
 whenever it fliall be removed to a more favour- 
 able clime, it may fpring up, and flounih in im- 
 mortal life: and that it certainly will do fo, mult 
 be the ftrongeft motive and incitement for us 
 thus to labour chearfully in our Lord's vineyard ; 
 to be ftedfaji and mmoveable, akvays abounding in 
 his work; forafmucb as ice kno^^ that our labour 
 Jl:all not be in .ain Our title to this immortah^^^ 
 is now fo fure, that we are often addreffed as if 
 already in polTeffiou of it ». We are fa,d to^ha^ 
 
 • }lh. xll. 21, 23. SecP.«/:. on 1 ^ohn^^^. H- ^^^ ^f'^' ''' ^• 
 
 under the Chrijiian Covenant. 363 
 
 already pajfed from death to life -f-. We are taught 
 to confider this our temporary diffolution as no 
 death, in the original, true fenfe of the word:}; ; 
 fmce we can have no apprehenfion that it will 
 leave us under the bondage of corruption^ and in 
 the blacknefs of darknefs for ever ; but on the con- 
 trary, are affured, that it leads us to the glorious 
 liberty of the children of God ; to an inherit a?ice in^ 
 corruptible y and that fadeth not aivay^ referred in 
 heaven for us. 
 
 Thus is mortality fwalloived up of life ; and we 
 henceforth are faid not to^//V||, but Jlrcp; as Chrift 
 pronounces of thofe two whom he raifed § ; and 
 as the intermediate ftate of every Chrillian is de- 
 fcribed by his apoftles*^: nay, in his dire6l proof 
 of the general refurreftion, he declares of all the 
 faithful, that they ever live to Gody as being ftill 
 in covenant with him-f -f ; from whom death itfelf 
 c2innot feparate them §§: nor is the interval be- 
 tween that and the refurreftion, of any more 
 account with God, than it is of real import to 
 themfelves; as we have feen. 
 
 Thus, 
 
 f John V, 2 1 . I John iii. 14. 
 
 X Quando homo peccator incipit credere in Filium Dei vera et 
 viva fide, et illius principii vita? particeps cvadit, per quod acternum 
 illud exitium fuperaturus eft; mm fimul dicitur fuperafle mortem 
 tcmporalem, quas foJummodo confiderabatur ut aeternse mortis 
 miniftra. Ac proin credens non dicitur mori^ etiam quoad corpus; 
 quia nexus qui inter hanc et aeternam mortem erat, fublatus eft. 
 Vitringa, Obferv. Sacr. Lib. ii. c. 7. p. 351. * Death is as nothing, 
 compared to what it would otherwife have been to the finner ; and 
 the felicity of heaven is fo fure, and fo near, that by an eafy and 
 common figure, true Chriftians are fpoken of as already there,' 
 Doddr, on y^^. viii. 51, 32. 
 
 II >^«yi. 50, 51.— xi. 26. 
 
 j Matt ix. 24 Mark v, 39. Luke vili. 5 z. JoJjn xi. 1 1 . 
 
 *• I Cor, XV. 18, 20. I TheJ. iv. 13, 14.— v. 10. vide fupra- 
 
 ft Luke XK* 38. $§ Ro;r., viii. 3?, 39. 
 
3 64 ^^^ Nature ajid Efid of Death . 
 
 Thus, though in the fight of the unwife, 'ive feeni 
 f^ ^/^^ — yet is our hope full of immortality ; and our 
 departure and difmiflion from this mortal ftate, 
 becomes our entrance and admiflion into it. Well 
 therefore may we now fay with the Pfalmift*, 
 Return unto thy reft, O my foul, for the Lord hath 
 Jealt bountifully ivith thee. I ivill lay me down tn 
 peace, and Jleep ; //// 1 awake in the mornings of 
 the refurreaion. We may, with the good apoftle, 
 chearfully commit our fouls into the hand^ of our 
 faithful Creator-, who, we are perfuadcd, is^ able to 
 keep that which is committed unto him, againji that 
 day. What a mild and unterrifying thing muft 
 death be, in fuch a view as this ! 'Tis nothing, 
 we fee, in the fcripture-account ; nor are we ever 
 bid to fear, or prepare for it, (as is obferved by a 
 pious writer fO but to look and watch for J, and 
 hapn unto, that coming of the day of the Lord \l 
 which it direftly introduces s and which is there- 
 fore faid to be at hand^-, to draw nigh, and pre- 
 fent our Judge, even at the door{i). There is 
 
 nothing 
 
 + Taylor on R.m, p. 355- Comp. JlexaUr on iCcr. xv. p. 34, 
 J M^//. xxiv. 42. &c. XXV. 13. Mark xni. 33, Sec, 
 
 It 2 Pet. iii. 12. . 
 
 5 Rom. xiii 12. Phil.iv. 5. 1 P^Y. iv. 7. 
 
 (1) James V. 7, 8, 9. The hour is coming, a>id no^v is ; 7^/'"' Y' 2 5' 
 Though fome of thefe, and the like paflages, may more i";?^ediately 
 relate to Chrift's firll coming to judgment, at the deftruaion of Je^ 
 ^/alem; as fome learned men fuppofe; (fee 7f -'^ .^^f/^^ ^^^ 
 Eccl. Hift. Vol. I. p. 49, 50.) y^^t are they no lefs ^PP^^^J^^^.^^J^^^^ 
 fecond coming in tL fenfe abovementioned ; whereof the former 
 has been generally confidered as a type ; and both are u^ally de- 
 fcribed in the fame terms, MuU. xxiv. 29, &c. Cbr. Aug. Heumannus 
 in I Cor.'u 8. H ^^y^^c. t« Kt^f;^, eft dies cxtremus Judicii. Quamvis 
 cnim Corinthiorum nuUus hoc die fuperftes futurus ^^t ; ^^"^^^^"^.^ 
 die hominum emortuali ad diem Judicii. nullum vel bene agendi. 
 
 14 
 
 under the Chrijlian Co'venant. 365 
 
 nothing in the former that can be terrible, to 
 fuch as have learned to conceive of it aright; and 
 are ready to abide its confequences. The pains 
 that may attend it are uncertain ; oft far from 
 being equal to thofe we undergo on other occa- 
 fions ; never to be compared with what muft be 
 endured after it -, if we have not already taken out 
 its liing, by mortifying and fubduing that, which 
 firft occafioned it ; and which ftill arms it v/ith 
 its greateft, and moft deadly terrors. If we have 
 but taken care to be of the number of thofe, to 
 whom thefe great and precious promifcs belong ; if 
 we have an intereft in, a well grounded expefla- 
 tion of them ; we (hall be fo far from dreading, 
 and declining; that we cannot avoid often dwell- 
 ing on, and ever delighting in, the profpect of 
 that, which infallibly conveys us to the fubftance, 
 and completion of them. 'Till we have done this, 
 indeed we are, and ought to be, in a ftate of 
 bondage to this king of terrors. Nor can we ever 
 fo far get the better of them, as to behold our 
 change in an agreeable light; or bear the reflec- 
 tion on it, with any tolerable quiet and compo- 
 fure of mind : it will yet fill our cup with bitter- 
 
 nefs ; 
 
 yel rcfipifcendi fpatium patcat ; utraque dies tanquam conjuncla 
 fpeaatur. Nov. Aft. Erud. 1759. p. I94.ib. p. 204. Obfervat 
 Htumannus in I Cor. xv. 29, de Baptifmo yTrsp tuv isK^uvy fcripfuTe hoc 
 Paulum ad eos, qui cum Judais llatuerint corpus et animum pari 
 fjmno premi ad diem ufque Judicii, fimulque utrumque refufcita- 
 tum iri. Hxc plerorumque, qui fub vet. Feed, vivebant, fententia 
 fait, quemadmodum Heuma?inus Programmate A. 1757. edito docuit. 
 Imo eadem opinio M. CCCC. poll C. N. annos in Ecclefia Chri- 
 ftiana regnavit. Sed hoc loco earn non impugnat Apoftolus ; verun^ 
 potius, tarvquam a leftoribuo fui'^ rcccptam, et ipfeadfumcrc vide;u^.. 
 pomp. Alexander, Paraphr. on 1 Cor. xv. p. 88, <SiC. 
 
-66 "fhe Nature and End of Death, Gfr. 
 
 nefs ; make our whole life melancholy ; and its 
 
 end confufion, and difmay. 
 
 Seeing then, that the all-wife Creator of the 
 world has, for fo many good ends, been pleafed 
 to put it under the dominion of death ; and the 
 all-merciful Redeemer hath fo fully done his part, 
 to qualify this feemingly moft dreadful difpenfa- 
 tion ; and convert it into the greateft real bleffing; 
 by making it a proper paiTage to, and preparation 
 for an infinitely nobler and more perfeft ftate : 
 Let us be perfuaded to do our parts likewife, that 
 thefe gracious ends may be obtained in us ; and 
 byconfequence, that this neceflary means to them, 
 may be ever reflefted on with joy, and not Kvitb 
 grief: nay, that the thought of this may fervc, 
 as 'it is intended, to the mitigation of all other 
 griefs ; and to the improvement, and the confum- 
 mation of our joys ; whilft we are ever looking 
 for, and longing after that ikfeJ Lope, and ihe glo- 
 rious appearance of the great God, and our Savtour 
 
 JefusChrift. 
 
 Now unto the fame Go.I and Father of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrijl, who according to his abundant mercy, 
 bath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the re- 
 furreBion of Jefus Chrijl from the dead; to him be 
 all might, majefty, and dominion, both now and 
 evermore. 
 
 A P P E N- 
 
 APPENDIX: 
 
 Concerning the Ufc of the Words 
 
 SOUL, or SPIRI% 
 
 In 
 
 Holy SCRIPTURE; 
 
 And the 
 
 State of the DEAD there defcribed. 
 
APPENDIX; 
 
 Concerning the ufe of the words Soul^ or 
 Spirit^ in holy Scripture ; and the ftate 
 of the Z)^^^ there defcribed. 
 
 IN the firft place the words t^flj, naiTl and nn. 
 in the Old T^ftament, which are in our ver- 
 fion generally tranflatedyj///, or fpirit-, as well as 
 thofe of the fame import in the New, wvtvjJL^ and 
 ^vx^'j moft commonly denote, 
 
 I. Persons. 
 
 Gen. xvii. 14. "ThatyS/J fliall be cut off. Add 
 Exod. xii. 15, 19. — Lev, iv. 2. If ^foul fliall fm 
 through ignorance. — 27. — li ariy one * of the 
 comnion people fin through ignorance. Add vi. 2. 
 vii. 20. — the^z^/that eateth of the flefti of the 
 facrifice. — 21. the y3^/ that (hall touch any un- 
 clean thmg. Add 25, 27. and xvii. 10, 15. xix. 8. 
 XX. 6. xxii. 1 1. If the prieft buy ^ny foul with his 
 money, he ftiali eat of it. xxiii. 30. And whatfo- 
 ever foul it be, that doth any work in that fame 
 day, the {^mtfoul will I deftroy from among his 
 people. Add Num.xv. 30, 31. xix. 13, 20. Deuf, 
 XXIV, 7. If a man be found fteallng any 'of hi$ 
 brethren, 2 Sam. xiv. 14. Neither doth God re- 
 fped any perfon \ Prov. xiii. 2. — the foul of the 
 tranfgreflbrs fhall eat violence. Add xiv. 25. xix. 
 2. -E,2:r^.xviii.4. Behold, aliyj/<f/r are mine ^ as the 
 
 foul 
 
 * K^DJ ^ Et non toilet Dens aBtmam. Vid. Cleric. 
 
 A a 
 
370 APPENDIX. 
 
 foul of the father, fo alfo the foul of the fon is 
 mine. xxvu. i3.-they traded the ^r>i of men. 
 ^<J?..u.43.— fear came upon evei7>//. AM Rom. 
 ii. Q. xiii.i. 1 rm.iv. I. (edncmg Jptntst.e. ledu- 
 cerl 2 Pet. ii. 1 4- - beguiling unftable fouh. Rev. 
 ^yj^i i2__the merchandife of gold and filver,— 
 and flaves, and fouls of men. 
 
 2. Secondly, People; 
 
 As when they are numbered. Gen. xlvi.15. AH 
 the fouls of his fons and daughters were thirty 
 and three. Add 22,27- Exod.ls- xiu^.-xviAb. 
 ^according to the number of your perfons. Num. 
 ^xxi 28. — levy a tribute— one >/ of five hun- 
 dred, both of the perfons, and of the beeves. &c, 
 __.._ thirty and two thoufand 'perfons m all, 
 —40 —the 'perfons were fixteen thoufand.— 46- 
 fixteen thoufand '/.^r>^. 1 a««.v 21. - they 
 took away— of men an hundred thoufand. Jer.hu 
 29. -carried away captive -eight hundred and 
 thirty two ' perfons. ^o. — Nebuzaradan—czmtd 
 away captive of the Jews feven hundred and forty 
 five /.4;«. Aas ii. 4 1 --the fame day were added 
 unto them about three thoufand/«//5. Addvu.14. 
 
 xxvii.3,7. 1Pet.iii.20. 
 
 — \nd divided into families. Gf«. xlvi. 27._Ali 
 the fouls of the houfe of Jacob which came mto 
 EziPt. I Sam. xxii. 22. 1 have occafioned the 
 dStla of all the ' perfons oi thy father's houfe. 
 —Or diftinguiflicd from other goods. Gen.xn.S^ 
 Abraham took Sarai his wife, arid Lo/ — and^all 
 
 A P P E N D IX. 
 
 37* 
 
 their fubflance, — and the fouls that they had 
 gotten in Haran.yiv.zi. — Give me the "perfons, 
 and take the goods to thyfelf. Jo/l^.xi.i^. But 
 every man they fmote with the edge of the fword, 
 until they had deftroyed them; neither kft they 
 any to breathe «'. Add i Kings xv. 29. 
 
 3 . Thirdly, foiJ, or fpirit often fignifies the 
 vtan himfelf: as my foid^ i.e. I.Gen.yM.. 13. Say, 
 I pray thee, thou art my fifter— and m^fiul fliall 
 live bccaufe of thee. xix. 20. — let me efcape thi- 
 ther, — and myyJz//fhall live, xxvii.4. that my 
 foul may blefs thee before I die. Job vii. 15, — fo 
 that my foul choofeth ftrangling. x. r. ray foul is 
 weary of my life. Add Pfal. xxxv. 9. Ivii. 4. Matt. 
 xxvi. 38. 
 
 My foul, i.e. me. Num. xxiii. 10. — 'let me die 
 the death of the righteous. Pfalm xxxv. 3. — fay 
 unto my foul, I am thy falvation. xli. 4. heal my 
 foul, for I have finned againft thee. 
 
 Thy foul, i.e. thyfelf. Eflb. iv. 13. Prov. m. 22. 
 fo fliall they be life unto thy foul. Ezek.m. 19.— 
 thou haft delivered thy foul. Add /. 21. 
 
 Thy fpirit, i. e. thee. 2 Tim, vi. 22. The Lord 
 Jefus be with thy fpirit. 
 
 His foul, i. e. himfelf. Prov.xi. 17. The merci- 
 ful man doth good to his own foul. Add xx. 2. 
 
 Her foul, i. e. herfelf. Ifai. v. 14. (applied by a 
 profopopoeia to the grave,) therefore hell hath en-, 
 larged herfelf. 
 
 Their fouls, i. e. tbemfehes. Ifai. xlvi. 2. — . 
 
 them- 
 
 * nyz'i 
 
 'tl'SJ 
 
 A. a 2 
 
i 
 
 372 APPENDIX. 
 
 themfehes are gone into captivity, [applied to 
 ^^ti-foul,i.e.;.«. aC.r.xii.15. I-iUvery 
 
 gladlv fpend, and be fpent iox you . 
 
 Your fpirit, i. t.yourfehcs. Mai. n. i5> and 16. 
 
 take heed to yourjpirit. a , Cnr wi 
 
 My fpirit and yours, 1. e. you and me i C<jr. xvi 
 iS.—they have refrefhed my fpirit ^nA yours. And 
 in many other places. Thus, 
 
 4. Fourthly, M. i.t.perfons, fre faid to .^/. 
 EW. xii. 16 .-no manner of work (hall be done, 
 —fave that which every man mull eat. 
 
 To .^/..r ...... Job xxxiii. ao. So that his l^e 
 
 .nbhorreth bread, and his >/ dainty meat. Pfal. 
 cvii. 18. Their foul abhorreth all manner ot 
 
 To be>mM Ezek. vii. 19— they fhall not 
 
 fatisfy their fonh. ^, ,-. 1 r.„t 
 
 To be «.^^.>^. P'-".'": xi- 25- The liberal^/ 
 
 fhall be made fat. So xiii. 4- , , i 
 
 Or>//. Prov. xxvii. 7. The full/W lotheth an 
 
 honev-comb. ^ , 
 
 To be hungry, ib. To the hungry >/.evey 
 bitter thing is fweet. Pfal. cvii 9— he fatjsfieth 
 the longingM and fill^th^he hungn^>/ -^^^ 
 goodnefs. Prov. vi. 30. Men do not defpife ^ 
 thief, if he fteal to fatisfy his foul when he is 
 
 ^""Wy- Prov. XXV. 25. As cold waters to ^ 
 thirftyjoK/. ^Q 
 
 » - 
 
 APPENDIX. 373 
 
 T^o faint. Pfal. cvii. 5. — • their yj/// fainted in 
 them. 
 
 To ht f?iGte with the fword. 5''?/^- ^' ^^' — 
 yofma took Makkedah, and fmote it with the edge 
 of the fword — them, and all the fouls that were 
 therein. So 30, 32. xi. 11. i Ki77gs xv. 29. he 
 fmote all the houfe of Jeroboam': he left not to 
 "Jeroboam any that breathed^. 
 
 Or ^^:/ ^ P/^/. Ixxvi. 12. He fliall cut off the 
 fpirit^ of princes. 
 
 (See above, under Perfons.) 
 
 To be killed. Gen. xxxvii. 21. — Let us not kill 
 ^him. Num. xxxi. 19. — ^whofoever hath killed any 
 '^perfon. xxxv. 30. whofo killeth any ^perfon. Jojk. 
 xx.3. — the flayer that killeth ^ny' perfon unawares. 
 Mark iii. 4. — Is it lawful to fave ^life^ or to kill. 
 Deut. xix. 6. — left the avenger of blood purfue 
 the flayer, — and kill 'him. Add Rev. vi. 9. 11. 
 
 Slain. Deut. xxii. 26. — as when a man rifeth 
 againft his neighbour and flayeth 'him. xxvii. 25. 
 Curfed be he that taketh reward to flay an inno- 
 cent 'perfon. Jer. xl. 14. — Doft thou certainly 
 know that Baalis — hath fent Ifimael to flay 'thee. 
 Ezek. xiii. 19. will ye pollute me— to flay tht fouls 
 that fliould not die ? 
 
 Devoured. Ezek. xxii. 25. — they have devour- 
 ed yj^/r, 
 
 Dejlroyed. Luke vi. 9. — Is it lawful to fave ^life, 
 or to deftroy it? A£ls iii. 23. — every foul w^hlch 
 will not hear that prophet fliall be dcftroyed. 
 
 To die. Jof ii. 14. — our Hife for yours. [Heb. 
 
 our 
 
 A a3 
 
^ 
 
 :> 
 
 74 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 our foul to die inftead of you.) Judg. xvi. 30. 
 •^^Sampfon faid, Let 'w? die with the Philiftines. 
 loh xxxyi. 14. '77-'0' <^ie in youth. £zf^. xviii.20. 
 The foul tliat fmneth, it fhall die. 
 
 To fail. Ifai. Ivii. 16.^ the fprit fhould fail 
 
 before me> 
 
 To be lojl. Matth. x. 39. He that findeth hi* 
 ^Ufe fhall lofe it, and he that lofeth his ''///f— fhall 
 find it. So xvi. 25,-26. What is a man profited 
 iif he fliall gain the whole world, and lofe his own 
 foul? Lukexv'n. 33, Whofbever fhall feek to fave 
 his "///>, fhall lofe it, ^c. 
 
 Or kept dive. Ffal xxii. 29. — none can keep 
 alive his own foul. Ezek. xiii. 18. —Will ye fave 
 the fouls alive that come unto you? 
 
 And faved. Job ii. 6.— but fave his Uife. Add 
 Mark iii. 4. Luke vi. 9. Jam. 5. 20.— fliall fave a 
 
 ftz</ from death. 
 
 To be delivered from" death, hell, the /if, or 
 grave. Jojl:. ii. 13. — that ye will — deliver our 
 • Wr.w from death. >^ xxxiii. 18. He keepeth 
 back his>«/ from the pit.— 30.— to bring back 
 his/o«/ from the pit. Add Pfal. vi.4. vii. 2. xxx. 3, 
 — xlix. 15. God will redeem ray fold from the 
 power of the grave. Add \\A. 13. Ixxxvi. 2. 13. 
 Ixxxix.48. cxvi. 8. Prov. xxiii. 14. Thou— flaalt 
 deliver hisTow/ from hell. Ifai. xxxviii. 17.— thou 
 haft in love to my ^«/ delivered it from the pit of 
 corruption. Jonah ii. 6.— yet haft thou brought 
 up my "'life from corruption. 
 
 IL 
 
 
 Jtrsj 
 
 m 
 
 trw 
 
 APPENDIX. 375 
 
 II. Sometimes tliefe words include all living 
 
 CREATURES. 
 
 Gen. I. 20. Let the waters bring forth — the 
 moving creature that hath ^life. — 24 Let the 
 earth bring forth the "^living creature. — 30. — 
 every beaft, &c. wherein there is life. (Margin, a 
 living foul) — ii. 7. — and man became a living 
 foul.^ — 19. — whatfoever ^^jy?/ called every ^living 
 creature^ that was the name thereof, vii. 22. All 
 in whofe noftrils was the breath of life'', ix. 12. 
 — 'This is the token of the covenant which I 
 make between you and every " living creature. 
 — 16. — that I may remember the everlafting 
 covenant between God and every "* living crea- 
 ture. Deut. xx. 16. — thou fhalt fave alive "" nothing 
 that breatheth, i Cor. xv. 45. — The firft man 
 Adam w^as made a ^living foul ^ the laft Adam 
 was made a "^quickening fpirit. 2?^^. viii. 9. — the 
 third part of the creatures which were in the fea, 
 and had Uije, died, xvi. 3. — Every living foul died 
 in the fea. 
 
 in. Sometimes the body alone; and that either, 
 
 Firft, living. Job xxxiii. 22. — His foul draweth 
 near unto the grave. Pf. cv. 18.— He was laid in 
 iron {Heb. the iron entered his foul.) Comp. Luke 
 
 ii-35- 
 
 Or, Secondly, dead. Num. v. 2. Whofoever is 
 
 defiled by the 'dead. vi. 6. — He fhall come at no 
 
 'dead body. — 11. — He finned by the dead. ix. 6. 
 
 De- 
 
 A a4 . 
 
3/6 APPENDIX. 
 
 Defiled by the dead body of a man. x. 7. — If any 
 of you — ftiall be unclean, by reafon of a dead 
 body. (Heb. dead foul.) xix. 13. Whofoever 
 toueheth the dead body of any man that is dead. 
 Lev. xix. 28. Ye fliall not make any cuttings in 
 your flefli for the dead. xxi. i. — There (hall none 
 be defiled for the dead.— 11. Neither lliall he go 
 in to any dead body, xxii.4. The dead. Job. xiv. 22. 
 — His flefti upon him fliall have pain, and his 
 fotd within him fhall mourn, (v. Chappehw, Com- 
 ment, ib.) Hag. ii. 13. — If any that is unclean 
 by a dead body. 
 
 And, Thirdly, burled. Pf. xvi. 10. — Thou wilt 
 not leave my foul in hell : which is repeated A5fi 
 ii. 27, 3 1. Vid. Beza & Whitby in loc. 
 
 IV. Some of the fame words fland for the lii- k 
 both of man and beaft,^ and often are fo rendered 
 in our verfion. 
 
 Geti. vi. 3 . My fpirit fliall not always flrive with 
 man (Heb. the foul which I give man fliall not 
 continue, vid. Cleric, in loc.) vii. 22. — All in 
 whofe noflrils was the 'breath of life (Heb. breath 
 of the fpirit of life) died. ix. 5. Your blood of 
 your lives will I require (Heb. blood in your fouls J) 
 xix. 17.— Efcape for thy life, xxxii. 30. — ^I have 
 feen God face to face, and my life is preferved. 
 Exod. iv. 19. — AH the men are dead which fought 
 thy life. xxx. 12. — Then fhall they give every 
 man a ranfom for his foul. Num.xvi. 22. — O God, 
 the God of the fpirits of all. flefli, vid. Cleric, in 
 
 loc^ 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 377 
 
 loc. So xxvii. 16. I Sam. xix. 5. — He did put his 
 life in his hand — 11. — If thou fave not thy life 
 to-night. Add xxi. i. xxv. 29. — Yet a man is lifeii 
 to purfue thee, and to feek thy foul 5 but the foul 
 of my lord fhall be bound in the bundle of life 
 with the lord thy God. 2 Sam. iv. 9. As the Lord 
 liveth who hath redeemed my foul out of all ad- 
 verfity. i Ki^2gs xix. 10. — They feek my life to 
 take it away. So;^. 14. and 2 Ki/igs i. 14. — Job ii. 
 6. Behold he is in thine hand, but fave his life. 
 X, 12. — Thy vifitation hath preferved my ""Jpirit. 
 xii. 10. In whofe hand is the foul of every living 
 thing, and the breath of all mankind, xxvii. 8. 
 What is the hope of the hypocrite, when God 
 taketh away his foul? xxxiii. 28. He will deliver 
 his foul (rom going into the pit, and 30. P/:xxxi. 
 5* Into thine hand I commit my ypirit. xxxv. 7. 
 — A pit, which without caufe they have digged 
 for my foul. Ixix. i. Save me, O God, for the 
 waters are come in unto my foul. Add Ixxi. 13, 
 Ixxiv. 19. — Prov. xiii. 3. He that keepeth his 
 mouth keepeth his life. xvi. 17. — He that keep-, 
 eth his way, preferveth his foul. Add xix. 16. 
 Ecclef viii. 8. There is no man that hath power 
 over the spirit, to retain the Ypirit. Jer.iv. 30.— 
 They will feek thy life. x. 14. — There is no 
 ""breath in them. xxii. 25. I will give thee ir^to 
 the hand of them that feek thy life, xlviii. 6. 
 Flee, fave your lives. Ii. 6. Flee — and deliver. 
 every man his foul. Ezek. xxxvii. 5, 6. — Thus* 
 faith the Lord unto thefe bones — I will caufc 
 
 breath 
 
o 
 
 
 78 APPENDIX. 
 
 Hreath to enter into you. — 8. There was no 
 Hrcath in them. Amos ii. 14, 1 5- — Neither fhall 
 the mighty deUver himfelf. Zecb. xu. i. — The 
 Lord which — formeth the ">nV of man within 
 him. Matt. ii. 20. —They are dead which fought 
 the young child's ^Hfe. vi. 25.-Take no thought 
 for your ""life, what ye {hall eat.— Is not the bje 
 more than meat? x. 39. He that findeth his 
 ^life fhall lofe it; and he that lofeth his ^life tor 
 my fake (hall find it. So xvi. 25, 26. xx. 28. — 
 The fon of man came to give his "^ life a ranfom 
 for many. Mark viii. 36, 37. What (liall it profit 
 a man if he gain the whole world, and \o<r, his 
 own fouH Or what (hall a man give in exchange 
 for Kisfoul? Add X, 45- -^"^'^ viii. 55. — her 
 Hpirit came again. Add ix. 24, 56. xu. 22, 23.— 
 take not thought for your Hife, what ye (hall eat, 
 —the Hife is more than meat. xiv. 26. If any man 
 come to me, and hate not — his own - lije alfo. 
 he cannot be my difciple. xvii. 33. Whofoever 
 (hall feek to fave his ■'life (liall lofe it ; and whofo- 
 ever (hall lofe his "///>, (liall preferve it. xxui. 46. 
 ~ Father, into thy hands I commend my fptrtt; 
 and having faid thus he gave up the ghoft. Joh.x. 
 1 1 — the good (hepherd giveth his " life for the 
 (lieep, So S: 15, and 17. — I lay down my ''Ufe, 
 that I might take it again, xii. 25. He that lov- 
 eth his Hife fliall fofe it. xiii. 37. I will lay down 
 my -lifi for thy fake. So ;^. 38. xv. 13. Greater 
 love hath no man than this, that a man lay down 
 his 'life for his friends. A5is xv. 26. Men that 
 ^ have 
 
 ■Vvyr>. 
 
 Tl Tlnvnx, 
 
 APPENDIX. 379 
 
 have hazarded their ^ lives for the name of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift. xx. lo. — his "^life is in him 
 24. neither count I my ""life dear unto myfelf, fo 
 that I might finilh my courfe with joy. xxvii.io. 
 
 — this voyage will be with hurt — not only of 
 the lading and (hip, but alfo of our ^ lives. Add f. 
 22. — Rom. xi. 3, — they feek my ^Hfe. xvi. 4. 
 who have for my V//^ laid down their own necks. 
 Phil. ii. 30. — he was nigh unto death, not re- 
 garding his ^life. I "Thejf. lu 8. We were wiUing 
 to have imparted unto you our own fouls, i Pet. 
 ii. 19. — let them that fuffer commit the keeping 
 of their fouls to him, as to a faithful Creator. 
 jjohn iii. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, 
 becaufe he laid down his ^ life for us: and we 
 ought to lay down our ^ lives for the brethren* 
 Rev. xii. 11. — they loved not their ^livcs unto the 
 death. 
 
 Which life is placed either, firft, in the blood. 
 
 Ge?7. ix. 4. But flefh with the life thereof, which 
 is the blood thereof, fhalt thou not eat. Lev. xvii. 
 1 1 . For the life of the flefli is in the blood, j^ 14. 
 For it is the life of all flcfh, the blood of it is for 
 the life thereof. Deiif. xii. 23. — the blood is the 
 life^ and thou mayeft not eat the life with the 
 flelh, [hence called the blood oi foulsy Jer. ii. 34. 
 
 — in thy fkirts is found the blood of the fouL of 
 the poor innocents.] And accordingly faid to be 
 poured out. I/a. liii. 12, — he hath poured out his 
 foul unto death. Lam. ii. 12. — theiry2>^// was pour- 
 ed out into their mother's bofom. 
 
 Or, 
 
380 
 
 JPPEN3jtX. 
 
 Or, Secondly, breath. Gen. li. 7. -^ God 
 formed man — and breathed into his noftrils the 
 -ireath of life. vi. 17. — I do bring a flood—to 
 deftroy all flefli wherein is the ^ireafh of life* 
 And fo vii. 15, and 22. i Kings xvii. 17. — hiJ 
 ficknefs was fo fore, that there was no 'ireatb left 
 in him. Job xii. 10. In whofe hand is th^foul of 
 every living thing, and the ^ ireath of all man- 
 kind, xxvi. 4. — whofe ""fpirif came from thee* 
 Add xxvii. 3. xxxiv. 14. If he fet his heart upon 
 man, if he gather unto himfelf his ""fpirif and 
 his *ireath. Pf. cl. 6. Every thing that hath 
 'ireafh. Ecclef. iii. 19. — that which befalleth the 
 fons of men, befalleth beafts — they have all one 
 Hreath. IfM 22. Ceafe ye from man, whofe 'ireath 
 is in his noftrils xlii. 5. That giveth ireafh un- 
 to the people. Ezek, xxxvii. 9, 10. — Prophefy 
 unto the \vind— fay to the ^ wind— come from 
 the four ^ winds, O breath, and breathe upon thefe 
 (lain.— fo I prophefied,— and the ^breath came 
 into them. Dan.x, 23. -- the God in whofe hand 
 thy ^breath is. x. 17.— there remained no ftrength 
 in me, neither is \htve' breath left in me. Ja. ii. 
 26. the body without the 'fpirit is dead- 
 
 Which breath, fpirit, or life, 
 
 Efiters into a man. Gen. ii. 7. God formed 
 man,— and breathed into his noftrils the ^breath 
 of life. Rev. ii. 1 1 . — the 'fpirit of life from God 
 
 entered into them. 
 
 Goes forth. P/cxlvi.4. His ^/t^//> goeth forth, 
 
 be returneth to his earth* 
 
 APPENDIX. 381 
 
 Departeth. Gen. xxxv. 18. — as her ^breath was 
 in departing. 
 
 Comes again, i Sam.xxx.12. — when he had 
 eaten, his fpirit came again to him. i Kings xvii. 
 21 — let this child's foul come into him again. 
 Z/«>f^viii. 55. — her ^fpirit came again, and fhe 
 arofe. 
 
 Js taken away. Pf. civ. 29. — thou takeft away 
 their ^breathy they die. 
 
 Received. ABs vii. 59. — Lord Jefus receive my 
 fpirit. (vid. Obje^ions.) 
 
 Given ov yielded up. Jer. xv. 9. She hath given 
 up the ^ghojl. Matt, xxvii.^o. Jefus — yielded up 
 the ^ghojl. Add John xix. 30. — ABsv. 5, 10. 
 
 Expired. Job xxxi. 39. — if I — have caufed the 
 foul of the owners thereof to expire (as in the 
 margin.) Mark xv. 37. O h Irjo-ng l^eTrveva-e. So ^. 
 39. and Luke xxiii. 46. 
 
 V. Thefe words defcribe man in refpefl to his 
 
 FUTURE LIFE. 
 
 Matt. X. 28. Fear not them — which are not 
 able to kill the foul. (vid. Objeftions.) iCor.v.^. 
 — that the fpirit may be faved in the day of the 
 Lord. zCor. xii. 15. And I will very gladly fpend 
 and be fpent for 'you. Heb. x. 39. — we are — of 
 them that believe to the faving of the foul. xii. 23. 
 •^^ the Jpirits of juft men made perfect (vid. Ob- 
 jeftions.) xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule 
 over you— for they watch for your /culs. Ja. 1.21. 
 
 receivQ^ 
 
 
 ' nn 
 
 tfDi 
 
382 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 receive the word, which is able to fave your 
 
 fouh. I P€t. i. 9. Receiving the end of your faith, 
 even the falvation o( your fouls, ii. 25. — ye were 
 as fheep going aftray, but are now returned to 
 the Ihepherd and bifhop of ycmr fouls, iv. 19.— 
 kt tliem that fufFer according to the will of God, 
 commit the keeping of th^r fouls to him. Rev.xx. 
 4. — I faw the/^.7/j of them that were beheaded 
 for the witnefs of Jefus— and they lived and reign- 
 ed with Chrift a thoufand years. 
 
 VI. In fome places they denote the lower 
 APPETFi Es, affec'tions, paffions of the mind, or 
 man; or ths feat of fuch appetites, &c. 
 
 Gen.xxxW.2' — h\s foul clzvt nnto Dhtab. xli. 8. 
 ^ it came to pafs that his fpirit was troubled. 
 xRi. 21. — we are verily guilty concerning our 
 brother, in that we faw the anguifh of his foul, 
 &c. Exod, vi. 9. — they hearkened not unto Mofes 
 for anguifh of fpirit. xv. 9. — my lujl fhall be fa^ 
 tisfied upon them, xxiii.9. — ye know the heart 
 of a ftranger. Lev. xvi. 29. — yc (hall afflift your 
 Jcub. mimb. xi. 6. Our>/ is dried away. Deut. 
 xii. 15. — thou mayeft — eat fleih ^ whatfoever 
 thy four lufteth after, xxiii. 24. — thou mayeft 
 eat grapes thy fill, ^nt thine ownpleafure. xxiv.15, 
 ^thou (halt give him his hire,— for he is poor, 
 and fetteth his ^ heart upon it. Judg. viii. 3. then 
 th€ir^^;/^^r was abated tov/ards him. iSa?n.\.io. 
 .^She was in bitteniefs oi JduL — f 15.-— I am 
 jt woman of a forrowful 'fpirit, ii. 16, — take as 
 
 mvich 
 
 APPENDIX; 383 
 
 much as thy foul defireth. xviii. i. *— the foul of 
 Jonathan was knit with the foul of David^ and 
 Jonathan loved him as his own foul. xxii. 2. — 
 every .one that was ^ difcontented^ gathered them- 
 felves unto him. xxx. 6. — the foul of all the 
 people was grieved. 2 S^am. xiii. 39. — t\iQ foul of 
 King David longed to go forth unto Abfalom. 
 xvii. 8. — thou knoweft thy father, and his men, 
 that they be mighty men, and they be ^chafed ift 
 their nmids. 2 Chron. xxi. 1 6. — the Lord ftirred up 
 againft Jehcram the ^fpirit of the Philiflines. Job 
 iii. 20. — Wherefore is light given to him that is 
 in mifery, and life unto the bitter in foul? xiv. 
 22. — his yc*/^/ within him fhall mourn, xxx. 16. 
 — - my foul is poured out upon me, the days of 
 affli6lion have taken hold upon me. Pf. xxvii. 14, 
 He fhall ftrengthen thine heart, xxxi. 9. — mine 
 eye is confumed with grief, yea, my foul and my 
 belly. XXXV. 25. let them not fay in their hearts, 
 Ab^fo would we have it [ah^ ah^ our foul ^ vid. mar- 
 gin.) Ixxvii. 2. -^ my foul refafed to be comfort- 
 ed. Ixxviii. 18.— they tempted God — by aiking 
 meat ^for their lujl. cvii. 9. — he fatisfieth the long- 
 ing foul^ and fiUeth the hungry foul, cxliii. 4. 
 Therefore is my fpirit overwhelmed within me. 
 Prov. xv. 1 3 . — by forrow of the heart, the ""fpirit 
 is broken, xvii. 22. — a broken fpirit drieth the 
 bones, xxiii. 2.—- put a knife to thy throat, if 
 thou be a man given to appetite, xxv. 28. — He 
 that hath no rule over his own fpirit^ is like a 
 pity that is broken down. xxxi. 6. Give wine to 
 
 thofe 
 

 384 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 thofe that be "of heavy hearts. Eccl. vi. 7. The ap- 
 petite is not filled. — 9. Better is the fight of the 
 eyes than the wandering of the fjejre. Ifa. xxix. 8. 
 It fhall even be as when a hungry man dream- 
 eth, and behold he eateth ; but he awaketh, and 
 hlsfoul is empty: behold he is faint, and his foul 
 hath appetite, xxxii. 6. To make empty the yo«/ 
 of the hungry, xxxviii. 15. — I fiiall go foftly all 
 my years in the bitternefs of my fouL liv. 6. — 
 the Lord hath called thee as a woman — grieved 
 in fpirit. Iv. 2. Let your foul delight itfelf in fat- 
 nefs. Iviii.io. — if thou draw out thy foul to the 
 hungry, and fatisfy the affliftedyoa/. — 11. — the 
 Lord fhall — fatisfy thy/o«/ in draught. Jer. ii. 
 24. That fnufFeth up the wind at her ^pleafure. 
 Dan. ii. 3. — my fpirit was troubled to know the 
 dream. Jlf/V.vii.i. — my/o?//defireth the firft ripe 
 fruit. HaLn.5. enlargeth his //5/J"m John x. 2^. — 
 ^how long doft thou make us to doubt? animam 
 nojlram tollis. xii. 27. Now is my foul troubled. 
 A£ts xiv, 2. — the unbelieving Jews ftirred up the 
 Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected to- 
 wards the brethren, xvii. 16. — his "fpirit was 
 ftirred in him, when he faw the city wholly given 
 to idolatry. Heb. xii. 3. — left ye be wearied, and 
 faint in your minds, fa. iv. 5. — \}a& fpirit that 
 dwelleth in us lufteth to envy. Rev. xviii. 14. — 
 the fruits that i^y foul lufteth after are departed 
 from thee. 
 
 
 VIL 
 
 *l *£4?J <70T£ TtJV \M'/r,% iflUU 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 3§5 
 
 VII. In other places they fignify the superior 
 FACULTIES, and operations of a man's mind; 
 
 As when thefe laft are fuper-added to the for- 
 mer. 
 
 D^«/.xxvi.i6. — thoufhalt therefore keep and 
 do them with all thine heart, and with all thy 
 foul. Add XXX. 6. Matt. xxii. 37. Mark xii. 30, 33. 
 Luke x.-zj. Acts w.^z. 
 
 Or oppofed to the body, ov flejh. Mic.Vi.y. The 
 fruit of my body for the fin o( my foul. Matt. xxvi. 
 41. The fpirit indeed is wiUing, but the flefh is 
 weak. Add Mark xiv. 38. i Cor.Yi. 20. — glorify 
 God in your body, and in yoxxx fpirit. Add vii. 34. 
 2 Cor. vii. I.— let us cleanfe ourfelves from all 
 filthinefs of theflcfli znd fpirit. G^/.iii. 3. ^hav- 
 ing begun in the fpirit, are ye now made perfeft 
 by the flefh .? Add v. 1 7. Eph. iv. 23 . — be renew- 
 ed m the fpirit of your mind. Phil. iii. 3. we — 
 worfhip God in the fpirit— and have no confi- 
 dence in the flefii. i P./.ii. u. __ abftain from 
 flefiilylufts, which war againft xhtfeal. ifobnz. 
 I Willi — thou mayeft profper and be in health, 
 even as thy foul profpereth. ' 
 
 Firft, His thoughts. Pf. xxlv. 2. \vho hath hot 
 lift up Us foul to vanity, xxxii. 2— in vvhok fpirit ' 
 there is no guile. Ails xix. 2 1 .— PW purpofed in 
 the fpirit — to go to ferufalem. 
 ^ AnAintelka. Prov.n.io. When -^knowledge 
 IS pleafant unto thy foul. xx. 27. The fpirit of 
 man is the candle of the Lord. Add xxxiii. 8. 
 Mark 11. 8. When Jcfus perceived in his>W/ that 
 
 , 2 b they 
 
•■■a|« 
 
 386 APPENDIX. 
 
 they fo reafoned. iCr.ii.i i—What man know- 
 
 •eth the things of a man, fave the fpirtt of man 
 
 which is in him ? . n * 
 
 Secondly, judgement. Dan.v. 12. An excellent 
 fpirit, and knowledge, and underftandmg - wei^ 
 found in - Daniel. ABs xv 24. - certain which 
 went out from us have troubled you — fuoveit- 
 
 '" O^'i/i. Num. XXX.4— her bond where- 
 with flie hath bound htv foul. So i: 5,^0. Jeis 
 xviii K. — P'"'l was prefled mfpnf. 1 Pet. 1. 22. 
 L ye have purified your fouls in obeying the 
 
 "^Thirdly, his mil and choke. 2 Chron.xxxxi. 22. 
 — the Lord ftirred up the fpirit of Cyrus. So 
 Ezra i I . Pf- xxvii. 1 2. Deliver me not over to the 
 .W//.of mine enemies, cv.22. To bind his princes 
 'at his pleafure. Jer. xxxiv. 16. at their ^pleafure 
 
 Fourthly, His courage, and refolution to purine 
 •t c.r y \ __ their heart meked, neither was 
 there />/r/V in them any more Pr.<y. xvin. 14- 
 The hrit of a man will fuftam his infirmity^ 
 m^ i I A — the Lord itirred up the fprtt ot 
 ^^Si-2 - »ua - and the fpirit of all the 
 remnant of the people, and they came and did 
 work in the houfe of the Lord. A^s xvm. 25. -• 
 being fervent in the/^/nV, he fpake and taugh 
 diligently. Rom.\.9- God is my witnefs whoni I 
 fcrve with ^n^ fpirit. xii. n. not flothful in bufi- 
 nefs, fervent in .#/;•//. 
 
 Fifthlv, His care and concern, i Cor. v. 3- — / 
 ^^ri!y as abfent in body, but prefent in >r.A 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 387 
 
 Add f. 4 — C?/. ii. 5. Though I be abfent in the 
 flefli yet am I with you in iht fpirit, joying and 
 beholding your order. 
 
 Sixthly, His general temper. Prc-j.xvi.2. All 
 the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes bu<- 
 the Lord weigheth the fpirits. xvii. 27. — A man 
 of underftanding is of an excellent j(?;/>zV. 
 
 Inclination. Eph.vi. 6. — Doing the will of God 
 'from the heart. Col. iii. 23 . — Whatfoever ye do 
 do it 'heartily as to the Lord. 
 
 Or difpofition. Gen. xxiii. 8.— If it be -your mind 
 that I fhould bury my dead. Ex. xxxv. 21. — 
 
 — they came — every one of whom his fpirit 
 made wilhng. Ezek. xiii. 3. —wo unto the foolifli 
 prophets that follow their ovrn fpirit. i Cor. ii. 12 
 
 — we have received, not tht fpirit of tlie world' 
 but tht fpirit which is of God. 
 
 And thus we have a Broken. Pf Yi.iy. The fa- 
 crifices of God are a broken fpirit. Contrite; Jf 
 Ixvi. 2. — to this man will I look, even to him that 
 IS poor and of a contrite fpirit. Humble; Prov. 
 XVI. 9. _ Better is it to be of an humble >>//. 
 IJa. Ivn. 15.-1 dwell with him that is of a 
 contrite and hxxmhh fpirit. Faithful; Prov.n. 13. 
 — he that is of a faithful fpirit concealeth the 
 matter. Patient; Ecclef. vii. 8. — the patient in 
 fpmt IS better than the proud in fpirit. ^iet j 
 I Pet. 111. 4. — the ornament of a meek and quiet 
 fpmt. A New; Ezek. xxiii.3 ^- ~ make you a new 
 heart, and a new /pirit. A Right fpirit; PfH 
 10. —renew a right fpirit within me. Or a 
 
 Haughty; 
 
 • Ex ■^vx.'l^, 
 
 B b 2 
 
 " Dntt'2J3 
 
388 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 Haughty, Prcv. xvi. i8. Pnde goeth before dc- 
 ftruttion, and an haughty [pint before a fall. 
 Perverfc; 7>.xlx. 14. The Lord hath mmgled a 
 nerverfc fpirit in the midft thereof. Hardened 
 Ipuit; £>.«/. 11.30— the Lord thy God hardened 
 his fpirit. Dan.v. 20. His mind hardened mpndc. 
 A fpirit of Bondage ; R.;«. viii. 15-- Y^ h^^'^ "°J. 
 received thej!/./r/V of bondage agam to fear. Ot 
 Error; If xxix. 24. They aUb that erred in fpmt 
 , %^ iv 6. — hereby know we the /pint — ot 
 error." OiAntichriJl; i7c/;.iv.3.-this is that//.- 
 nV of Antichrift. Fear; zTimA.j. God hath not 
 given us the#r/V of fear. We-^ivw/; ^. .^'^ 3- 
 L to give unto them the garment of praiie for 
 the fpirit oi heavinefs. Sleep-, 7/ xxix. lo. -the 
 Lord hath poured out upon you nhtjpmtoi deep 
 fieep. Slumber; Rom. ii. 8. - God hath given 
 them the>>/V of flumber. Unckannefs; Zech.xm 
 2 I will caufe the unclean fpirit to pafs out of 
 the land. Whoredoms ; Ho/.'iv.iz.^ the fptnt of 
 whoredoms hath caufed them to err. Add v. 4. 
 Or of m/dom ; Ex. xxviii. ^ . - thou flialt fpeak 
 unto all — whom 1 have filled with ths/pmt of 
 •wifdom. Judgment ; Ifn'-A- When the Lord- 
 ihall have purged the blood of Jerufalem from 
 the midft thereof, by the /pirit of judgment. 
 xxviii. 6. — for a Jpirit of judgment to hmi that 
 fitteth in judc^raent. Knoivkdge ; If. ii. 2. — the 
 Nrit of hio'i^kdge, and of the fcr.r of the Lord. 
 Meebief; i Or: iv- 2 1 .-ftwU I come unto you- 
 in the fpirit of mreknej] ; Gal. vi. 1 . — if a man be 
 overtaken in a fault— reftorc fiich an one m the 
 
 Ipirit 
 
 APPENDIX. 389 
 
 fpirit oi Meekncfs, Grace, Zech. xii. lo. — I will 
 pour upon the houfe of David— th^ fpirit of 
 grace. Truth', ijoh?i iv. 6. — Hereby know we the 
 fpirit of t?'u:h. 
 
 VIII. Sometimes both the superior and in- 
 ferior FACULTIES of the mind, or man, are 
 joined together, and reprefcntcd by the fame 
 words promifcuoufly; 
 
 As in PfaL cxliii. 3. — the enemy hath per- 
 fecuted my fouL — 4. therefore is my fpirit over- 
 whelmed — 6. my foul thirfteth after thee. 7. 
 
 my fpirit faileth.— 8. 1 lift up my foul unto thee. 
 — 12. deftroy all them that afflici my foul. Luke 
 i. 46, 47. my foul doth magnify the Lord, and 
 my fpirit hath rejoiced, i Theff. v. 23. I pray God 
 your whok fpirit, and foul, and body be preferved 
 blamelefs. HeL iv. 12. the \yord of God is quick 
 , — piercing even to the dividing afunder of foul 
 and fpirit : — which takes in what is termed both 
 \\i^ fenfitivc and rational foul. vid. Pierce in Heb. 
 iv. 12. 
 
 In thefe feveral fenfes do the words above, and 
 fome others ufually fubftituted for them, (fuch as 
 nV Cor, n\nD praecordia, ^^D jecur, nv^D renes, 
 
 ■X3T!;} vifcera, tccx^Siu, Buf^og^ v\ig, (p^rivy (nffXayxyoCi 
 
 .with their derivatives and compounds occur in 
 Holy Scripture : and in many places they are 
 figuratively applied to the Deity, — The words nn 
 and Tsrnvf^oc ftand often alfo, 
 
 IX. For the holy ghost and his gifts. 
 
 Bb3 
 
 See 
 
39' 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I 
 
 See Dr. Edivards's Doclrine of Irrefiflible Grace, 
 c. 2. a book well worth the perufal of all thofe, 
 who would be mafters of the Scripture language. 
 
 X. For good and evil angels ; as may be feeii 
 in any Concordance, or Lexicon. 
 
 But neither do thefe words, nor any other, fo 
 far as I can find, ever ftand for a purely imma- 
 terial principle in man j or zjubjlance (wh.atever 
 ibme may imagine they mean by that word) 
 wholly feparable from, and indc{,-endent of the 
 body ; as may perhaps appear more fully, when 
 we examine the pafiages ufually cited for that 
 purpofe. 
 
 I proceed, in the next place, to confider what 
 account the Scriptures give of that ftatc to which 
 death reduces us. And this we find reprcfented 
 by fucp ; by a negation of all ///V, tk?/sbfy or 
 aSIion; by re/?, refii?.g-i'hce, or hnie-, Jilence, olli- 
 fclon, darknejs, definition or corruption. 
 
 I. Sleep. 
 
 Firft, in the cafe oi good men. Dr/^/.xxxi.i6. — 
 the Lord faid unto Mojes, Behold, thou {hxiXxpep 
 with thy fathers, i Kings i. 21. — when my lord 
 the king {h-AXJleep with his fathers, ii. 10. So Da- 
 roidfept with his'fathers. xi. 43. Solomon, xv. 24. 
 Jfa. xxii. 50. Jehofiaphat. 2 Kings xv. 7. Jzariah. 
 >v.38. Jotham. So 2 Chron. ix. 31. xiv. i. xvi. 13. 
 xxi. I. xxvi. 23. xxvii. 9. xxxii. 33. 
 
 "Jobnu 13, 14. For now fhould I have lien ftill 
 and been quiet, I fliould h^v^fept-, then had I 
 
 beea 
 
 APPENDIX. 391 
 
 been at reft ^ v^Ith kings and counfellors of the 
 earth, vii. 21. — Why doft thou not pardon my 
 tranfgrefTion .? for now (hall I Jleep in the duft. 
 xiv. II, 12. As the waters fail from the fea, and 
 the flood decayeth and drieth up ^ fo man lieth 
 down and rifetli not, till the Heavens be no 
 more ; they ftiall not awake, nor be raifed out of 
 t\v€\v Jleep. (vid. Cleric.) Pf. xiii. 3.— lighten mine 
 eyes, left I fleep xht Jleep of death. PJ. xvii. 3. — 
 Thou haft vifited me in the night, thou haft tried 
 me, and flialt find nothing. 15. — I ftiall be fa- 
 tisfied, when I awake, with thy likenefs. Matt. 
 xxvii. 52. — the graves were opened, and many 
 bodies of faints thatjiept, arofe. John xi. 11. — our 
 friend LazarusJIeepeth ; but I go that I may awake 
 him out of Jleep. 13. — Jefus fpake of his death. 
 A£is vii. 60. — And when he had faid this, he fell 
 ajleep. xiii. 36. — David, after he had ferved his 
 own generation by the will of God,' fell on Jleep, 
 and was laid unto his fathers, i Cor, xv. 6. — He 
 was feen of above five hundred brethren at once: 
 of whom the greater part remain — but fome are 
 fallen ajleep. — 18. Then they alfo which are fallen 
 ajleep in Chrift, are periflied. — 20. — now is Chrift 
 — become the firft-fruits of them thsitjlept. — 51. 
 —we ftiall not all Jleep, but we ftiall all be chang- 
 ed. iTheJf. iv. 13. — I would not have you igno- 
 rant, brethren, concerning them that ax^ ajleep. — 
 14. — them — W^\zl\Jleep in Jefus, will God bring 
 with him. — 15. — we which are alive — ftiall not 
 prevent them that are ajleep. v. 10. who died for 
 us, that whether we wake, or Jleep, \yq ftiould live 
 
 B b 4 together 
 
392 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 39 
 
 
 together with him. 2 Pet. iii. 4. — fmcc the fa- 
 thers fell aflecp, all things continue as they were. 
 Secondly, In the cafe of bad men. i Kings xiv. 
 20. Jeroboam— flept\v\'i\\\\\sivit\\tvs. So — 31. of 
 Rehoboam. xvi. 6. Brt^//w. — 28. Omri. xxii. 40. 
 yfyf>rt^. 2X/;7.viii. 24. Joram. x. 35. jebu. xiu. 9. 
 Jelxahaz. Joajl>. xiv. 16. —29. Jcrcbcam. xv. 22. 
 Menabem. xvlio.Jhaz. xxi.iS. Mam feh. xxiv. 6. 
 Jehoiakim. So 2 Cz&rwz. xii. 16. xxvii. 9. xxxiii.20. 
 P/: Ixxvi. 5. The ftout-he.irted are fpoiled, they 
 have flept their ><-/>• J^r. li. 39. — I will make 
 them drunken, that they may — llecp a perpe- 
 tual fcep, and not wake. 1 Cor. xi. 30. For this 
 caufe many are weak and fickly apong you, and 
 
 mya-jftccp. 
 
 Thirdly, In the cafe of all men. Dan xu. 2. 
 Many of them that/rr/' in the dull of the earth 
 fhali'awake, feme to everlafting life, &c. Com- 
 pare Joh;: V. 28, 29. — the hour is coming, in 
 the which all that are in their graves fliall hear his 
 voice, and iWA come forth; they that have done 
 coed, unto the refurreaion of life, &c. 
 
 II. Death is reprefcntcd by a negation of all 
 LIFE, TiiouGHT/or ACTION J cvcn to good mcn. 
 
 Jol^ ill. 1 1 ' Why died I not from the womb ? — 
 !->. for now fhovild I have licnfiilL — i6. as an 
 hidden tintimch birth, I had not been ; as infants 
 which never fd^ light, xiv. lo. Man dieth — and 
 ii:;hcre is he? — 14. If a man die, ihall he live a- 
 galn ? [vid. Chappelcw, on >'. 12.] Pf. vi. 5. — in 
 death there is no remembrance of thee. xxx. 9. 
 
 What 
 
 What profit is there in my blood, when I go 
 
 down to the pit? fhall the duji praife thee? 
 
 Ixxxviii, 10, 1 1, 12. Wilt thou fliew wonders to 
 
 the dead ? fhall the dead arife and praife thee ? 
 
 fhall thy loving kindnefs be declared in the grave ? 
 
 or thy faithfulnefs in dejlruetion? fhall thy won- 
 
 ders be known in the dark ? and thy righteouf- 
 
 nefs in the land oi forgetfulnefs ? cxv. 17. The dead 
 
 praife not the Lord, neither any that go down in- 
 
 toftlence. cxviii. 17. I fhall not die, but live, and 
 
 JtfcA^r^' the works of the Lord, cxlvi.4. His breath 
 
 goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that 
 
 very day his thoughts perifh. Exclef. ix. 5. — the 
 
 dead hio'w not any thing. ~ 6. — their love, and 
 
 their hatred, and their envy is now perij}:ed — 10. 
 
 there is no ivork, nor device, nor knowledge, nor 
 
 wifdom in the grave, whither thou goefl. If. xxxviii. 
 
 18. — the grave cannot praife thee, death cannot 
 
 celebrate thee; they that go down into the pit 
 
 cannot hope for thy truth. 19. The living, he fhall 
 
 praife thee, as I do this day. ASls ii. 24.. — David 
 
 is not afcended into the Heavens, &c. 
 
 III. Death is reprefented as a rest, and the 
 Grave a resting place, house, or home. 
 
 Job iii. II. Why died I not? —13.— then had I 
 been at rejl. — 17. — there the weary be at ref. 
 — 18. there the prifoners ref together; they hear 
 not the voice of the opprefTor. xvii. 13. ^ the 
 grave is mine houfe. — 16. they fhall go down to 
 the bars of the pit, when our reJl together is in 
 the dufl. Ecclef xii. 5, — man gpeth to his long 
 
 home. 
 
 m 
 
394 APPENDIX. 
 
 home. — 7. Then (hall the duft return to the earth 
 as it was ; and the fpirit (hall return unto God 
 who gave it. [vid. Cleric,-] i/lxiv.iS. All the kings 
 of the nations — He in glory, every one in his own 
 hoiife. Ivii. 2. They ftiall ref} in their beds; name- 
 ly, every one that walketh [or rather, hath walk- 
 ed] in his uprightnefs. Rev. xiv. 13. That they 
 rejl from their labours. 
 
 IV. A ftate of SILENCE. 
 
 I Sam. ii. 9. He will keep the feet of his faints, 
 and the wicked fhall htfilent in darknefs. P/xxxi. 
 J7. _ let the wicked be aQiamed, and let them be 
 ftient in the grave, xciv. 17. Unlefs the Lord had 
 ' been my help, my foul had almoft dv/elt mfilence, 
 cxv. 17. in fea. ii. Jer, xlviii. 2. — come, and let 
 us cut it off from being a nation; alfo thou jloalt 
 he cut down (in the margin, be brought to filence.) 
 F^zeL xxxii. 25. They have fet her a bed m the 
 midft of the flain with all her multitude : her 
 graves are round about him : all of them uncir- 
 cumcifed, flain by the fword : though their terror 
 was caufed in the land of the living ; — Add 27, 
 &c. 
 
 V. Of OBLIVION. P/vi. 5. Ixxxviii. 12. as a- 
 bove, {tdi. ii. 
 
 VI. Of DARKNESS. 
 
 I Sam. ii. 9. as above, fed. iv, >/; iii. $. Let 
 darknefs and the ftiadow of death ftain it, {vt^. 
 
 the day of his birth.) x. 21, Before I go to the 
 
 land 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 395 
 
 land of darknefsy and the fhadow of death. — 22. 
 A land of darknefs^ as darknefs itfelf, and of the 
 fhadow of death ; without any order, and v/here 
 the light is as darknefs. xii. 22. He difcovereth 
 deep things out of darknefs^ and bringeth out to 
 light the fhadow of death, xvii. 13. — the grave is 
 mine houfe; I have made my bed in darknefs. 
 xxxiii. 28. He will deliver his foul from going in- 
 to the pit, and his life fliall fee the light. Pf. xliv. 
 19. Though thou haft fore broken us in the place 
 of dragons, and covered us with the fbadow of 
 death. [Add xUx. 19. in fe6l. vii. Pf, Ixxxviii. 12. 
 as above, feft. ii.] cvii.io. Such as fit in darknefs^ 
 and in the fliadow of death. Add i\ 14. Ecclef.xu 
 8. — if a man live many years — yet let him re- 
 member the days of darknefs, for they fliall be 
 many. John ix. 4. I muft work the works of him 
 that fent me, while it is day 3 the night cometh, 
 when no man can work. 
 
 VII. Of CORRUPTION and destruction. 
 
 Job iv. 18,19, 20. — He put no truft in his fer- 
 vants, — how much lefs in them that dwell in 
 houfes of clay; whofe foundation is in the duft; 
 which are crufhed before the moth ? they are de-- 
 ffroyed from morning to evening; thty 2iYQ periflj^ 
 ^i for ever. xxvi. 6. Hell is naked before him, and 
 definition hath no covering, xxviii. 22. Dcjlruc- 
 tion and death fay, we have heard the fame tliere- 
 of. Pf xvi.io.— thou— wilt not fuffer thine Holy 
 One to fee corruption, xlix. 9. That he fhould 
 ft ill live for ever, and not kt corruption. — 12. — 
 
 man 
 
 ^i 
 
 i 
 
 I hi 
 
 r <> 
 
396 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 man being in honour, abideth not. — H- like fiieep 
 they are laid in the grave, death lliall/r^ on them, 
 — their beauty fhall ccnfumc in the grave from 
 their dwelling. -19- H^ (Heb. HisyW) Jhall 
 cro to the generation of his fathers ; they (hall 
 Ircverfee light. - 20. Man that is in honour and 
 underftandeth not, is like the beafts tnat pmJJ:. 
 Ixxxviii. II. Shall thy loving kindnefs be dcdared 
 in the grave ? or thy faithfulncfs m defiruaton i 
 (vid Clericim, qui refte dcducit/2f/^W/«, mortuos, 
 a ratha defecit, defnt.) Add r;w. xv.i. xxvu 20. 
 A6i^ xiii. 36. D^ivW-vvas laid unto his fathers, 
 and faw corruption, i Cor. xv. 18. Then they alfo 
 that are fallen allccp in Chrift, are perijhcd. vid. 
 mfe, Difc. Vol. 1. p. 3i3> &c. Comp. '^i^f-^.i. 
 And, y«rrv. How thcfe and the texts m ftcl. x. 
 ao-ree with the notion of an intermediate ftate ot 
 life being the great bencnt procured by Chnft, 
 to which none are intitled but Mr.rri.? Sskcs, 
 Script. Boar, of Redemption, p. 210, &c. 
 
 Agreeably to thefe rcprefcntations of our ftate 
 in death., revelation informs us, 
 
 I That we (hall not awake, or be made ali-oc, 
 till the refurreaion. Pf. xvii. 15--! A^^H be fatil- 
 fied, when I aivake, with thy likenels. jo!:n vi 39. 
 This is the Father's will - that of all which he 
 hath given me, I ihould lofe nothing; but fliould 
 raife it up again at the laft day. xi. 24, 25 26. 
 Martha faith unto him, I know that he ihall rife 
 again in the refurreaion at the laft Day. Jcps 
 faid unto her, I am the rcfuircclion and the lite; 
 
 lie 
 
 w 
 h 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 97 
 
 he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet 
 fliall he livcy and whofoever Hveth and beheveth 
 in me, fliall never die. [whofoever liveth^ or is a^ 
 live at that day, Comp. i Tbejf, iv. 15. This we 
 fay unto you by the word of the Lord, that we 
 which are aUve and remain unto the coming of 
 the Lord, fliall not J>reve?2t them which are afleep. 
 And I Cor. xv. 51, 52. — we fliall not zWJlcep, but 
 w^e fliall all be changed, in a moment, in the 
 twinkling of an eye at the laft: trump.] Rom. iv. 
 17. — he believed — God, who quickeneth the dead, 
 and calleth thofe things which be not, as though 
 they were. 
 
 IL That the wicked fliall not be fevered from 
 the righteous till tlie refurre£fio?ty the end of the 
 worlds the comings or day of Chriji^ the day of the 
 Lordy THE dayy that day^ &c. 
 
 Matt. xiii. 30. Let both grow together until the 
 harvefl: : and in the time of harveji, I will fay to 
 the reapers. Gather ye together firfl: the tares, 
 and bind them in bundles to burn them : but 
 gather the wheat into my barn. — 40. As the 
 tares are gathered, and burnt in the fire ; fo fliall 
 it be in the ^W of this world. — 41 . The Son of 
 man fliall fend forth his angels, and they fliall ga- 
 ther out of his kingdom all things that offend, 
 and them which do iniquity. — 49. and fever the 
 wicked from among the jufl:. xxiv. 31. — He fliall 
 fend his angels with a great found of a trumpet, 
 and they fliall gather together his eledl: from the 
 four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other. 
 6 XXV. 
 
398 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 It i 
 
 If 
 
 ill 
 ,1 
 
 XXV. 31,32. When the Son of man fliall come 
 in his glory — before him fliall be gathered all 
 nations ; and he fliall feparate them one from 
 another, as a fliepherd divideth his flieep from 
 the goats. Add Mark xiii. 26, 27. 
 
 III. We are upon trial, or in a fl:ate of proba- 
 tiouy till the refurrcSlion, or the day of Chrifl:. 
 
 I Cor. i. 8. in feft. xi. PhiL i. 10. That ye may 
 be fmcere, and without offence till the day ofChriJt. 
 I Theff.Y. 23. — I pray God your whole fpirit, and 
 foul, and body be preferved blamelefs ujito the 
 coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift. i tim. vi. 14. 
 That thou keep this commandment without fpot, 
 unrebukable, until the appearance of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrifl:. TiV.ii. 12, 13.— denying ungodlinefs 
 and worldly lufts, we fliould live foberly, righte- 
 oufly, and godly in this prefent world ; looking 
 for that bleffed hope, and the glorious appearing 
 of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift. 
 Ueb. X. 35, 36, 37. Caft not away therefore your 
 confidence, which hath great recompence of re- 
 ward. For ye have need of patience ; that after 
 ye have done the will of God, ye might receive 
 the promife. For yet a little while, and he that 
 fliall come, will come, and will not tarry. Ja. i. 12. 
 Bleffed is the man that endureth temptation : for 
 when he is tried, he fliall receive the crown of 
 life, which the Lord hath promifcd to them that 
 love him. v. 7. Be patient, therefore, brethren, 
 unto the coming of the Lord, i Pet. i. 7. That the 
 trial of your" faith being much more precious 
 
 than 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 399 
 
 than of gold that periflieth, though it be tried 
 with fire, might be found unto praife, and hon- 
 our, and glory, at the appearing of Jefus Chrift. 
 — 13. — Gird up the loins of your mind, be fo- 
 ber, and hope to the end ; for the grace that is 
 to be brought to you at the re^oelation of Jefus 
 Chrift. 2Pet. iii. 11,12. Looking for, and haften- 
 ing unto the coming of the day of God, wherein 
 the Heavens being on fire fliall be diffolved, and 
 the elements fliall melt with fervent heat. — 14. 
 Wherefore, beloved, feeing that ye look for fuch 
 things, be diligent that ye may be found of him 
 in peace; without fpot, and blamelefs. Rev. ii. 25. 
 —that which ye have already, hold faft till I come. 
 
 IV. Our Chrijlian courfe, and improvements in 
 piety in this world, terminate in the refurrediion^ 
 the coming, or day of our Lord. 
 
 Phil i. 6. Being confident of this very thing, 
 that he which hath begun a good work in you, 
 will perform it until the day of Jefus Chrift. \\u 
 10, II. That I may know him, and the power of 
 his refurreftion, and the fellowfliip of his fuffer- 
 ing, being made conformable unto his death : if 
 by any means I might attain unto the refurreBion 
 of the dead ; or, that any way I may attain unto 
 the refurreclion, i. e. ofthejuft, iv. 5. Let your 
 moderation be known unto all men. The Lord 
 is at hand, i Theff/m. 13. — to the end he may 
 ftablifli your hearts unblameable in holinefs, be- 
 fore God, even our Father, at the ccmi?ig of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrijl, with all his faints, v. 23. as a- 
 
 bove. 
 
Hi . 
 
 ^-% 
 
 1 
 
 :i| 
 
 400 APPENDIX. 
 
 bove, kSt. ill. See alfo in the fame fe£l. i TimNi. 
 14. T'//.ii.i2,i3. Ja.v.j. iPct.i.j.i^. ^PctX\\. 
 II, 12. 
 
 V. The ele6t ftiall not be gathered together till 
 the refurreBion^ &c. 
 
 iW^^/. xxiv. 3 1 . Mark xiii. 26, 27. as above, feft. 
 ii. 2thejf/\i. I. — we befeech you, brethren, by 
 the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and by our 
 gathering together unto him. 
 
 VI . The world (hall not be yW^^^ before the 
 refurreBion^ &c. 
 
 Matt. xvi. 27. — the Son of man fhall come, in 
 
 the glory of his Father, with his angels ; and then 
 
 he fhall reward every man according to his works. 
 
 John xii. 48. He that rejefteth me, —the word 
 
 that I have fpoken, the fame fhall judge him in 
 
 the laji day. ABs xvii. 31. — he hath appointed a 
 
 day, in which he will judge the world in righte- 
 
 oufnefs, by that Man whom he hath ordained. 
 
 Rom. ii. 1 6. In the day when God {[\dX\ judge the 
 
 fecrets of men by Jefus Chrift. i Cor. iii. 13, 14, 
 
 15. Every man's work (hall be made manifeft. 
 
 For the day (hall declare it, becaufe it fliall be 
 
 revealed by fire; and the fire fliall try every man's 
 
 work, of what fort it is. If any man's work 
 
 abide which he hath built thereupon, he fhall 
 
 receive a reward- If any man's work fliall be 
 
 burnt, he fliall fuffer lofs. iv. 5. — judge nothing 
 
 before the time, until the Lord come, who both 
 
 will bring to light the hidden tilings of darknefs, 
 
 and 
 
 In !. 
 
 APPENDIX. 401 
 
 andwill make manifeft the counfels of the hearts : 
 and then fhall eveiy man have praife of God. 
 2 Tim. IV. I. — the Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall 
 judge the quick and the dead at his appearing. 
 Heb. vi. I, 2. the dodrine — of a refurreaion of 
 the dead, and oi etQznzl judgment. Rev.xx. 12,13, 
 '^4' 15- — I faw the dead, fmaii and great, ftand' 
 before Godj and the books were opened: and 
 another book was opened, whicli is the book of 
 hfe : and the dead wtve judged out of thofe things 
 which were written in the books, according to 
 their works. And the fea gave up the dead which 
 were in it j and death and hell delivered up the 
 dead which were in them : and they were judged 
 every man according to his works. 
 
 VII. Sincere Chriftians fhall not have boldnef^, 
 or confidence, before Chrift, till the refurre£lion, &c! 
 
 I John ii. 28. — Little children, abide in him ; 
 that when he fhall appear, we may have confi- 
 dence, and not be aftiamed before him at his comr 
 ing. IV. 17. Herein is our love made perfeft, that 
 we may have boldnefs in the day of judgment. 
 
 VIII. The virtuous fhall not be rewarded till 
 the rejurredlion, &c. 
 
 -Mz//. xiii.. 43. Then fhall the righteous fliine 
 forth as the fun In the kingdom of their Father.' 
 XIX. 28. -— ye which have followed me in the re- 
 generation, when the Son of man fhall fit in the 
 throne of his glory, ye alfo fhall fit upon twelve 
 thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Ifrael. xxv. 
 
 C c ip 
 
 
 • if 
 
 11 
 
402 
 
 J p P E N D I X\ 
 
 HI 
 
 lo, 20, 21. After a long time, the lord of thofe 
 fervants cometh and reckoneth with them. And 
 fo he that had received five taknts, came and 
 brought other five talents. His lord faid unto 
 him, Well done, thou good and faithful fervant ; 
 ^ enter thou hito the joy of thy lord. — So 23. ^ 34- 
 Then fhall the king fay unto them on lii.s right 
 hand, Come, veblelTcd of my Father, inherit the 
 kingdom prepared for you from the foundation 
 of the world. - 46. — thefe (the wicked) fliaU go 
 away into everla/llng pumJJment : but the nghte- 
 cus into life eternal. Luke xiv. H- 7- ^ho" ^^^}^ 
 be recompenfed at the refurreBion ofthejnft. Johtt 
 V 28, 29. — the hour is coming, m the which all 
 that are in their graves (hall hear his voice, and 
 Ihall come forth, they that have done good, unto 
 the refurreaion of life ; and they that have done 
 evil, &c. vi. 40.-This is the will of him that fent 
 me, that eveiy one which feeth the Son and be- 
 lieveth on him, may have everlafting life^ and / 
 will raife hint up at the laft day. - 44- No man 
 can come to me, except the Father - draw him : 
 and I will raife him up at the lafl day. — 54- ^'^o*^ 
 eateth my flelh, and drinketh my blood hath 
 eternal life, and I will raife him up at thehfl day. 
 xvi 2-'. Ye now have forrow: but I will fee you 
 amn. and your heart (hall rejoice, and your joy 
 no man taketh from you. ^<??/iU. 19- Rfpent yc 
 therefore and be converted, that your fins may 
 ^e blotted out, ^vhen the times of refrcpng Jhail 
 come from the frefence cf the Lord, i Cor. V- 5; ^ ° 
 •deliver fuchan one unto Satar,, for the deltruc- 
 
 tion 
 
 lU 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 403 
 
 tion of the flefh, that the fpirit may be faved in 
 the day of the Lord Jefus. 2 Cor. i. 14. — we are 
 your rejoicing, even as ye alfo are ours, in the 
 day of our Lord Jefus. v. 2, 3, 4. — we groan ear- 
 neftiy, defiring to be clothed upon with our 
 houfe which izfrom Heaven. For we that are in 
 this tabernacle do groan, being burdened : not 
 for that we would be uncloathed,\nt cloathcdupon ; 
 that mortality might be fwallowed up of life'. 
 (Comp. 1 Cor. XV. 52, 53, 54.— the dead fliall be 
 raifed incorruptible, and we fhall be changed: 
 For this corruptible muft put on incorruption, 
 
 and this mortal muft put on immortahty 
 
 Then (hall be brought to pafs the faying that is 
 written, Death is fwallowed up in victory.) Eph. 
 Iv. 30.— grieve not the holy Spirit of God, where- 
 by ye are fealed unto the day of redemption. Rev. 
 xi. 18. — thy wrath is come, and the time of the 
 dead, that they fhould ht judged; and that thou 
 ftiouldft give reward unto thy fervants the pro- 
 phets, and to the faints ; to them that fear thy 
 name, fmall and great; and fliouldft deftroy 
 them that deftroy the earth. 
 
 ^ IX. They ftiall not have eternal life, ovfaha- 
 tion; fhall not put on immortality, be received 
 unto Chriftj enter into \ns joy, behold his ghry, 
 or be like him ; till the refurreaion, &c. 
 
 John vi. 54. as above in kck. viii. — xiv. 2,3. In 
 my Father's houfe are many manfions. — I go to 
 prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare 
 a place for you, I will co7nc again, and 'receive 
 
 C C 2 you 
 
 i: 
 
464 
 
 JPPENDIX. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 405 
 
 vou unto myfelf, that where I am ye may be alfo. 
 xvii. 24. Father, I will that they alfo whom thou 
 haft given me, be with me, where I am ; that they 
 may behold my glory which thou haft given me. 
 jas iii. 20. 21. Jelus Chrift - whom the Hea- 
 ven muft receive, until the times of rcjlitution ot 
 all things which God hath fpoken by the mouth 
 of all his holy prophets. i?o/».vi.5. — if we have 
 been planted together in the likenefs of his death, 
 we ftiall be alfo in the likenefs of his rcfurreBton. 
 viii 1 1 —if the Spirit of him that raifed up Jefus 
 from the dead, dwell in you ; he that raifed Chnft 
 from the dead ihall alfo quicken your mortal bo- 
 dies, by his Spirit, that dwelleth in you.— 17.— 
 if fo be that we fuffer with him, that we may be 
 alfo glorifcd together. — 18. For I reckon that the 
 fufferings of this prefent time arc not worthy to 
 be compared with the glory that ftiall be revealed 
 in us. — 19. For the earneft expcftation of the 
 creature, waiteth for the mmifefiation of the fons 
 of God —23.— not only they, but ourfclves alfo, 
 which have the firft-fruits of the Spirit : even we 
 ourfelves, groan within ourfelves; waiting for the 
 adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Add 
 1 Cor. XV. 52, S3, 54- as above, fec^. via. Phil.m. 
 20, 21. For our converfation is m Heaven, yro;;/ 
 wWalfo we look for the Saviour, the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift : who ftiall change our vile body, that 
 it may be fafliioned like unto his glorious body. 
 Col. iii. 4. — when Chrift who is our life fliall ap- 
 pear, then ftiall ye alfo appear with him in glory. 
 1 ^rheji: ii. 19. — What is our hope, or joy, or 
 
 crown 
 
 crown of rejoicing ? are not even ye in the pre- 
 fence of our Lord Jefus Chrift, at hi, coming, iv.14, 
 15, 16, 17. For if we believe that Jefus died and 
 rofe again, even fo them alfo \v\{\c\\Jleep in Jefus, 
 will God bring with him. For this we fay unto you 
 by the word of the Lord, that we which are aLve, 
 and remain unto the coming of the Lord, fliall 
 not prevent them which are afleep. For the Lord 
 himfelf ftiall defcend from Heaven with a fliout, 
 with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the 
 trump of God; and the dead in Chrift fliall rife 
 firft: Then we which are alive and remain, ftiall 
 be caught up together with them in the clouds, 
 to meet the Lord in the air : and fo fliall we ever 
 be with the Lord. 2 I'hejf. i. 6,7. It is a righteous 
 thing with God to recompence tribulation to 
 them that trouble you; and to you who are 
 troubled, reft with us, when the Lord Jefus ftiall 
 be revealed from Heaven. — . 10. when he ftiall 
 come to be glorified in the faints, and to be ad- 
 mired of all them that believe — - in that day. 
 2 Tim. i. 18. The Lord grant unto him, that he 
 may find mercy of the Lord, in that day. iv. 8. 
 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of 
 righteoufnefs ; which the Lord, the righteous 
 judge, ftiall give me at that day : and not to me 
 only; but unto all them that love his appearing. 
 Heb. ix. 28. — Chrift was once oftered to bear the 
 iins of many: and unto them that look for him, 
 ihall he appear the fecond time, without fin, unto 
 falvation. i Pet. iv. 13. — rejoice, inafmuch as ye 
 are partakers of Chrift's fufferings ; that when his 
 
 ^ ^ 3 glory 
 
4o6 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 407 
 
 I \ 
 
 glory pall be revealedy ye may be glad alfo with 
 exceeding joy. v. 4. — when the chief Shepherd pall 
 appear, ye Ihall receive a crown of glory that 
 fadeth not away, i John iii. 2. — Now arc we the 
 fons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we 
 fhall be ; but we know, that when he pall appear, 
 we fliall be like him j for we fhall fee him as 
 he is. 
 
 X. They, \h€\v faith, labours, and Offerings, are 
 loji, periped, uKprdf table ; if there be no refur- 
 reSlion. 
 
 John vi. 39,&c. as above, fed. i. p. 396. i Cor. 
 XV. 18. Then, (/. e. if Chrift be not raifed) they 
 alfo which are fallen afleep in Chrift, are periped. 
 [Comp. Pf cxlvi. 4. and Ecclef. ix. 6.] 32. — If 
 after the manner of men, I have fought^ with 
 beafts at Ephefus\ what advantageth it me, if the 
 dead rife not? — 58. Therefore, my beloved bre- 
 thren, be ye ftedfaft,unmoveable, always abound- 
 ing in the work of the Lord ; forafmuch as yc 
 know that your labour is not in vain, in the Lord. 
 [This fuppofes, that all their labour in the Lord 
 would be in vain, if no refurreBion.^ Therefore, 
 
 XI. The refurrcSiion is the grand objefl of our 
 faith, hope, and comfort. 
 
 A£ls xxiii. 6. — Paid cried out — of the hope and 
 refurrcBion of the dead, I am called in queftion. 
 xxiv. 15. 1 — have hope towards God, — that there 
 Ihall be a refurreBion of the dead, both of the juft 
 and unjuft. i Cor. i. 7, 8. Ye come behind in no 
 
 gift ; 
 
 gift ; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift ; who fliall alfo confirm you unto the end ; 
 that ye may be blamelefs /;; the day of our Lord 
 yefus Chrifi. 2 Cor. i. 9. But we had the fentence 
 of death in ourfelves, that we fhould not truftin 
 ourfelves, but in God which raifeth the dead. 
 iv. 10. Always bearing about in the bodv the 
 dying of the Lord Jefus ; that the life alio of 
 Jefus might be made manifeft in our body. — i^. 
 Knowing, that he which raifed up the Lord Jefus, 
 fhall raife up us alfo, by Jefus. Phil. iii. 11. If by 
 any means I might attain unto the refurrcBion of 
 the dead. Add 20, 21. as above, feet. ix. i Thcff/i. 
 9, 10. — ye turned to God from Idols, to ferve 
 the living and true God, and to wait for his Son 
 from Heaven, iv. 17, 18. Then we which are alive 
 and remain, iTiall be caught up together with them 
 in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and 
 fo fliall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore 
 comfort one a?iother with thefe words. 2 T^hej}\ i. 7. 
 as above, fe6l. ix. iii. 5. — the Lord direct your 
 hearts into the love of God, and into the patient 
 waiting for Chrifi. 2 Tim. i. 12. — I know whom 
 I have believed J and I am perfuaded that he is 
 able to keep that which I have committed unto 
 him, againjl that day. \u 18. Who concerning 
 the truth have erred, faying that the refurreftion 
 is paft already; and overthrow they}////6of fome. 
 Tit. ii. 13. as above, {zQ^. iv. Heb. xi. 35. Women 
 received their dead raifed to life again ; and others 
 were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that 
 they miglu obtain a better refurrcBion. i Pet. i. 3, 
 
 c c 4 4, 5. 
 
4o8 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 h a 
 
 4, 5. BlefTed be God — which, accordhig to his 
 abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a 
 lively hope, by the refurreSlion of Jefus Chrift from 
 the deads to an inheritance incorruptible, and 
 undefiled, and that fadeth not away; referved in 
 Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of 
 God, through y^/VA unto falvation; ready to be 
 revealed in the lajl time. See /. 13. above in kSt. 
 iv. 2 Pet. iii. 13. Neverthelcfs we, according to 
 his promife, look for new Heavens, and a new earthy 
 wherein dwelleth righteoufnefs. i "John iii. 2. fee 
 in feft. ix. above. — :j^. 3. every man that hath 
 this hope in him (of a refurrcBion) purifieth him- 
 fclf, even as he is pure. Rtv. i. 9. I John, who 
 alfo am your brother, and companion in tribula- 
 tion, and in the kingdom and patience of J ejus Chrijl. 
 {Iv TV BccatXei^y y^ uVo^oi/y Ifja-a Xg/r»-) Vid. Grot. 
 
 XII. The v/icked will not be puniJJ:ed till the 
 refurreBion. 
 
 Matt. vii. 22, 23. Many will fay to me in that 
 day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in tliy 
 name? — and then will I profefs unto them, I 
 never knew you : depart from me, ye that work 
 iniquity, x. 15. — it ftiall be more tolerable for 
 the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of 
 judgement, than for that city. Add xi. 22. xii. 36. 
 — every idle word that men fhall fpeak, they fliall 
 give account thereof, in the day of judgement, 
 -xxv. 41. 7'hen (hall he fay alfo unto them^ on 
 the left hand, Depart from me, ye curfed, into 
 everlafting fire, prepared for the devil and his 
 
 angels. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 409 
 
 angels. — 46. — thefe fliall go away into everlaft- 
 ing puniftiment. Mark viii. 38. Whofoever there- 
 fore fliall be afliamed of me, and of my words ; 
 — of him alfo fliall the Son of man be afliam- 
 ed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father ^ 
 with the holy angels. Luke x. 12. — it fliall be 
 more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for 
 that city. See John v. 28, 29. in feft. viii. John 
 xii. 48. He that rejecleth me, and receiveth not 
 my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word 
 that I have fpoken, the fame fliall judge him /;/ 
 the lajl day. Rom. ii. 5, 6. - — But after thy hard- 
 nefs and impenitent heart, treafureft up unto thy 
 felf wrath againft the day of wrath, and revela- 
 tion of the righteous judgment of God; who 
 will render to every man according to his deeds. 
 2 T^hef: i. 7, 8, 9. When the Lord Jefus fliall be 
 revealed from Heaven — in flaming fire, taking 
 vengeance on them that know not God; — who 
 fliall be puniflied with everlafting deftruftion, 
 from the prefence of the Lord, and from the 
 glory of his power. 2P^/.ii.9. The Lord knoweth 
 how — to referve the unjuft unto the day of judge- 
 ment to be puniflied. iii. 7. —the Heavens and 
 flie earth which are now, by the fame word are 
 kept in ftore ; referved unto fire againft the day 
 of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. Jude 
 14, 15. — Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thou- 
 fands of his faints; to execute judgment upon all, 
 and to convince all that are ungodly among them, 
 of all their ungodly deeds which they hav^e un- 
 godly committed, and of all their hard fpeeches, 
 
 v/liich 
 
If 
 
 410 APPENDIX. 
 
 which ungodly finners have fpoken againft him. 
 Rev. i. 7. Behold, he cometb with clouds ; and 
 every eye fhall fee him ; and they alfo which 
 pierced him : and all kindreds of the earth ihall 
 wail becaufe of him- vi. 16, 17- And they faid 
 to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide 
 us from the face of him that fitteth on the 
 thi-one, and from the wrath of the Lamb : for the 
 great day of bis wrath is come, and who Ihall be 
 able to ftand ? 
 
 XIII. All this plainly (hews, that the Scripture, 
 in fpeaking of the connexion between our pre- 
 fent and future being, doth not take into the ac- 
 count our intermediate jlate in death ; no more 
 than we, in defcribing the courfe of any man's 
 aftions, take in the time he fleeps. 
 
 Therefore the Scriptures (to be confiftent with 
 themfelves) muft affirm an immediate connec- 
 tion between death and judgement. Heb. ix. 27. 
 — It is appointed unto men once to die, but 
 after this the judgement. See 2 Cor. v, 6, 8, ui 
 ObjeBions. 
 
 XIV. For this reafon the Scriptures reprefent 
 the co?7iing of Chrift as 7iear at hand. 
 
 Rom. xiii. 12. The night is far fpent, the day 
 is at band. Phil. iv. 5. — the Lord is at hand. 
 Jam. v. 8. — the coming of the Lord dr^weth nigh. 
 9. — the ]MAg^ Jlandeth before the door. Rev. xxii. 7. 
 — Behold, I come quietly. 12.— I come quickly ; 
 and my rev/ard is with me, to give every man ^c;-. 
 
 cording 
 
 APPENDIX. 411 
 
 cording as his work fhall be. — 20. He which 
 teftifieth thefe things, faith, Surely I come quickly. 
 
 XV. Alfo that he, his day, will covatfuddenly^ 
 as a fnare, a thief, upon all the world ; and wc 
 are cautioned to watchy and be fober, that it fur- 
 prize us not unprepared. 
 
 i^^^xii. 40. Be ye therefore ready alfo; for 
 the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye 
 think not. xxi. 34. — take heed to yourfelves, left 
 at any time your hearts be overcharged with fur- 
 feiting and drunkennefs,and cares of this life, and 
 fo that day come upon you unawaf^es. 35. — for as 
 2ijhare (hall it come on all them that dwell on 
 the face of the whole earth. 36. — JVatch ye 
 therefore, and pray always ; that ye may be ac- 
 counted worthy to efcape ail thefe things that fliall 
 come to pafs, and to ftand before the Son of man, 
 Phil. iv. 5. See above, i TheJJ\ v. 2. For your- 
 felves know perfeftly, that the day of the Lord fo 
 cometh as a thief in the night. 6. — Therefore let 
 us not fleep as do others ; but let us watch, a?id 
 befober. 2 Pet. iii. 10. — the day of the Lord will 
 come as a thief in the flight. — 12 looking for and 
 hafti?2g unto the day of the Lord. P^ev. ili. 3. — If 
 therefore thou flialt not watch, I will come on 
 thee as a thief, and thou flialt not know what 
 hour I will come upon thee. 2u'^\ xxii. 12. 20. 
 See above, feft. XIV. 
 
 i 1 
 1 1 
 
 ,' 
 >l 
 
 Objections, or Texts ufually alledged to 
 prove the contrary doftrine. 
 
 LThe 
 
4' 
 
 2 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 413 
 
 I. The dead are faid to /peak and aB. Jfai.v.14. 
 r— Hell hath enlarged herfelf, and opened her 
 mouth without meafure : and then- glory, and 
 their multitude, and their pomp, and he that re- 
 joiceth lliall defcend into it. xiv. 9, 10. Hell from 
 beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy 
 coming: it ftirreth up the dead for thee, even 
 all the chief ones of the earth ; it hath raifed up 
 from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 
 All they fhall fpeak and fay unto thee. Art thou 
 alfo become weak as we ? Art thou become like 
 unto us? Ezck. xxxii. 21. The ftrong among 
 the mighty fhall fpeak to him out of the midft 
 of hell with them that help him : they are gone 
 down, they lie uncircumcifed, flain by the fword, 
 &c. 
 
 Anfw. This is a ftrong, but very natural and 
 elegant Pro/opopaia; of which more under Prop. 
 xii. and xxvii. 
 
 II. Gen. ii. 7. Man became a living foul. 
 
 Anfiv. i. e. A living perfon. Gen. vii. 22. All 
 in whofe noftrils was the breath of life, of all that 
 was in the dry land, died, i Cor. xv. 47. Thefirft 
 man is of the earth, earthy. 
 
 III. Perfons are faid to go^ or be gathered to 
 their people, or fathers; or to^^ dow?i to them, 
 or to their children, into Shed. Gen. xv. 1 5. Thou 
 fhalt go to thy fathers in peace, xxxvii. 35. — 
 I will go down into tlic grave unto my fon. 
 
 mournmg. 
 
 Ar^fiv. 
 
 Anfw. Thefe phrafes, fince they are ufed of 
 whole generations; {Judges \\. 10.) as alfo of 
 men who led very different lives ; or, which in 
 this cafe comes to the fame thing, different from 
 their refpeftive anceftors; (as in the former text) 
 and whofe bodies were difpofed of in a different 
 manner ; Cas in the latter) or depofited in places 
 very remote from each other ; (as in both cafes) 
 can only mean the general Jiate of the dead ; in 
 which they are as often faid to fleep with theiry^- 
 therSy &c. ad plures. Vid. Cleric, in Gen. xv. 15. 
 xxxvii. 35. Patrick on 2 Kings xxiv. 6. Whitby in 
 A£lsi\. 26,2y. Barrow on Chrift's defcent into 
 hell. Vol. I. p. ^^j. 
 
 IV. Exod. iii. 6. I am the God of thy father, 
 the God of Abraham^ the God of Ifaac^ and the 
 God of Jacob. Vid. infra ad Ltikexx. 38. p. 418. 
 
 V. I Sam. xxviii. 1 1, &c. Saul and the Witch 
 of Endor. 
 
 Anfw. That this was merely an impoiition up- 
 on Sauly who adled in conformity to his own fu- 
 perftitious prejudices; is fhewn by LeCIerc in loc. 
 Though we muft own with this judicious com- 
 mentator, that fuch an abfurd praftice as that of 
 7iecro?nancy , did indeed imply the vulgar opinion of 
 a feparate exiftence, and that it commonly pre- 
 vailed notwithftanding all fuch inftances of fu- 
 perftition were condemned both by the law and 
 prophets. Tfii. viii. 19. And when they fhall fay 
 unto you, feek unto them that have famihar 
 
 fpirits. 
 
414 APPENDIX. 
 
 fpirits, and unto wizards that peep and that 
 mutter ; ftiould not a people feek unto their God ? 
 for the living to the dead ? An pro vivis ibimns ad 
 mortuos ? — qui nihil norunt de iis quae apud 
 vivos fiunt. Cleric. \h. Another folution may be 
 feen in Dr. S.Clarke, Serm. Ixxxv. p. 571. fol. 
 DubL ed. The grofs abfurdity of the common in- 
 terpretation is demonftrated in Chandlers Life of 
 David. B. 2. c.i6. 
 
 VI. I Kings xvil. 21, 22. And he ftretched 
 himfelf upon the child three times,— and faid, 
 O Lord, I pray thee, let this child's foul come 
 into him again.— And the foul of the child came 
 into him again, and he revived. 
 
 Jnfa. The foul here fignifies life, or perhaps 
 vigour. (Comp. i Sam. xxx. 12. — when he had 
 eaten, his fpirit camo to him again.) Redeat in 
 vifcera ejus. Ileb. Par. Chald. et Syr. 
 
 Vn. PfdL xxxi. 5. Into thine hand I commend 
 my fpirit. 
 
 Anfw. Spirit y can only mean life, as the author 
 treats of nothing there but temporal adverfity. 
 ver. 7. — thou haft confidered my troubles thou 
 haft knovv'n my foul in adverfities. 
 
 VIIL Ecclef iii. 21. Who knoweth the fpirit 
 of man that goeth upward ; and the fpirit of the 
 beaft that goeth dowaiward to the earth ? 
 
 I . Who ^knorcs the difference between them ? 
 Aah^ No body. Forver. 19. — that which be- 
 
 ^ falleth 
 
 AP P PrN P> I X. 415 
 
 falleth the fons of men, befalleth beafts; even 
 one thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, fa 
 dieth the other 5 yea, they have all one breath, 
 ver. 20. All go unto one place, all are of the 
 duft, and all turn to duft again. 
 
 Or 2. If the two foregoing verfes be the objec- 
 tion of an atheift (as is fuppofed by the judicious 
 writer mentioned below, p. 430.) then (as he alfa 
 obferves) thefe words contain the anfwer, * and 
 
 * imply. Who knows this'? Hoiju can a?2y man be 
 ^ fure of thatt It is evident, the fpirit of man is 
 
 * afcending upwards (is fitted for, and has a ten- 
 
 * dency towards things which are above this earth ; 
 
 * and therefore muft be defigned by its Creator 
 
 * for things fuperior to the mere animal life) hut 
 
 * the fpirit of a beajl is defending downwards ; name- 
 
 * ly to the earth ^ (grovels upon the earth, and is 
 
 * wholly confined to the low, animal, fenfitive 
 
 * life;) it is therefore evident man muft have 
 
 * preheminence over a beaft/ 
 
 IX. Ecclef xii. 7. Then fhall the duft return 
 to the earth as it was : and the fpirit fliall return 
 unto God who gave it. 
 
 Anfw. By fpirit, the preacher can only m.ean 
 life, in allufion to Gen. iii. 19. (In the fweat of 
 thy face (halt thou eat bread, till thou return un- 
 to the ground ; for out of it waft thou taken ; for 
 duft thou art, and unto duft thou (halt return) --1 
 unlefs we make him contradifl all that he had 
 faid before, iii. 19, 20. as alfo, ix. 5. — the dead 
 know not any thing, neither have they any more 
 
 2 reward. 
 
4i6 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 reward. — lo. there is no work, nor device, nor 
 knowledge, nor wifdom in the grave, &c. — That 
 fuch words mean no more in other writers, Vid. 
 Cleric in loc. and Job xxiv. 14. If he fet his heart 
 upon man, if he gather unto hlmfelf his fpirit 
 and his breath. — And that this author refers all 
 to the laft judgement. Vid. ver. tilt. God Hiall bring 
 every work unto judgment, with every fecret 
 thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 
 Comp. Di-.Dawfon's excellent anfwer to Mr. Strffes 
 argument drawn from the two foregoing texts, 
 in two letters annexed to his lady Mayer's leAure, 
 p, 249, &c. 
 
 X. Matt. x. 28. Fear not them which kill the 
 body, but are not able to kill the foul : (after that 
 have no more that they can do. Ltikexn. 4.) but 
 rather fear him, which is able to deftroy both 
 body and foul in hell. 
 
 Anfw. This is fo far from proving fuch a di- 
 ftinclion between foul and body as implies any 
 feparate cxiftence of the former from the latter j 
 or its being capable of fufFering in an intermedi- 
 ate ftate > that it feems only intended to point out 
 the great diftinftion between this and the next 
 Life ; when, in the common language, foul and 
 body are reunited, and future puniaiments com- 
 mence, to the everlajling deftruSiion of both, from 
 the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of hi^ 
 Power. 2 Thtf.x. 9. Comp. i Cor. v. 5. and 2 Pet. 
 ii. 9. and feft. V. p. 38 1 . It may be obferved here, 
 once for all, that when Chrift ufes the common 
 
 diftindion 
 
 APPENDIX. 4-7 
 
 diftinaion of Soul and Body, he may be conceiv- 
 ed to adapt himfelf wholly to the popular lan- 
 guage and ideas, without giving any confirmation 
 to the truth a.ndjti/lnefs of them ; as when he fays, 
 afptnt, (i.e. according to your own notion of it) 
 hath notflejh and bones, as ye fee me have. Luke xxiv. 
 39. without determining the reality of fuch a 
 phantom : which popular way of fpeaking, ufed 
 then on all occafions as the moft agreeable and 
 moft intelligible, fhould be more carefully attend- 
 ed to by us, in order to guard againft all fuch 
 chimaeras as are too often grounded on it. In the 
 fame popular manner do the Evangehfts treat 
 fome of Chrifl'^ miraculous works, when they 
 defcribe them juft according to the vulgar appre'- 
 henfion ; v. g. Luke vi. 1 9. there went virtue out of 
 htm to heal them all— and Mark v. 30. fefin imme- 
 diately knowing in himfelf that virtue had gone out of 
 bim, turned himfelf about in the prefs, and faid,wi:o 
 touched my deaths^ intending to denote his con- 
 fcioufnefs of the infirm perfon's wanting to be 
 cured in a private way, and accordingly making 
 ufe of the fuperftitious means, vulgarly deemed 
 effeftual to that purpofe, of fecretly touching 
 fome of his garments ; which defireof her's, Chrift 
 was determined to comply with (till he had op- 
 portunity of producing lier in publick) and 
 thereby inftantly rewarded her faith in his mira- 
 culous power, notwithftanding the improper 
 manner in which fhe had been induced to follcit 
 It, as if fuch healing virtue could have been pro- 
 duced in, or elicited from Chrift either magically 
 
 Dd or 
 
 « I 
 
 / 
 
IR 
 
 418 
 
 APPEND! X. 
 
 \ 
 
 or mechanically, and without his knowledge. 
 Vid. Cleric, et Grot, in loc. andComp. J^'isw.i^..- 
 where the common people entertain a like opmion 
 of St. Peters fliadow. Loca, qus aut inter Ic aut 
 veritati nobis repugnare videntur, commode ple- 
 rumque conciUari poftiint, fi dicamus, Scr.ptorem 
 fecium non fuam fententiam ubique expreffifle, 
 ct dixiffe quid res fit, fed aliquando ex jententia 
 aliorum aut ex vulgi opinione, &c. Jf'etjien N. T. 
 V II P- 877. This rule of inter-relation may be 
 applyed to many other points befide thole men- 
 tioned by that author. 
 
 The fame obfervation has been made on the 
 vukar notion of poflbflions by devils fo very 
 prevalent among the Jews about Chri/s time > 
 where he really cures each diforder without con- 
 troverting their opinions on the fubjeft (which 
 would have been endlefs, and anfwered no good 
 purpofe) but rather allows and argues from them 
 occafionaUy, ad homines-, cajh out thefe devils as 
 the Jews themfelves frequently attempted to do, 
 and is faid to rel>uke them, {Mark i. 25- i" the fame 
 manner as he rebukes zfrjer {Luke iv. 1 9.) or the 
 ■ WWi and/.^. Marth. viii. 26. See Dr. Haruwd s 
 judicious obfervations on the Demoniacs, ^ew 
 Introd. tatheN.T. C.7. § i. On the fame prin- 
 ciple alfo fev-eral parables fcem to be founded, as 
 that of the rich man and Lazams, below No.xu. 
 that of unclean fpirits icalking through dry (or de- 
 fert) places ; and numbers of them cutertng mto one 
 . man, and d'-.velUng there. Matt. xii. 45- -^"^^ ^'•^^• 
 See above p. 325. n. A. ^^ 
 
 .A P,P E N D 1 X. 
 
 41^ 
 
 XI. Matf. xvii. 3. — there appeared unto them 
 Mofes and Elias talking with him. 
 
 Anjw. I . This is either merely a vifion (ver. 9.-^ 
 Jefus charged them, faying, Tell the vt/ion to no 
 man) which confounded the apolUes : Luke ix. 
 33- — Oi; 2 . Thefe two might appear in their 
 own glorified bodies ; fince it is not very clear 
 whether Mofes alfo might not have been tranfla- 
 ted, or rather raifed again. Vid. Whitby, ib. and in 
 yude 9. & Cleric, in Deuf. xxxiv. 6. & in 2 Kings 
 ii. 1 1, or Flemings Chriftology, p. 68, &c. 
 
 XII. Luke xvi. 19, &c. The parable of the rich 
 man and Lazarus. 
 
 Anfw, This IS defigned for no more than a 
 general fcenical defcription of a future ftate, and 
 the real changes confcquent thereupon; without 
 any particular reference to a fact, in either per- 
 fon, time, place, or other circum fiances. Nay, 
 rather in thefe refpefts adapted (as is ufual in 
 fuch difcourfes) to the himifjlent notions of the 
 vulgar on this fubjcd. (Vid.C/^r/V. in ver. 23, 24.) 
 *u.|-. the tormented perfon is at the fame time 
 fuppofed to be both in and out ofiht body, — ver. 
 24. fend Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his 
 finger in %Dater, and cool my tongue, — As when 
 men are feigned to difcourfe, ^c. among nBorms 
 in the grave. Jfa, xiv. 9, 10, 1 1. Vid. Cleric, Ezek. 
 "xxxii. 21. and lay \\\tiv /words under their heads 
 there, ib. ver. 27. See Light/, Hor.' Heb. in \oc. 
 & comp. Job XV, 22. xxi. 32, 33. with Ciisp^^ 
 
 D d 2 
 
 pekw's 
 
420 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 felows commentary. They who can ftill con- 
 ceive fuch reprefentations as realities, may eafily 
 go one ftep farther, and give a literal fenfe like- 
 wife to the verfe immediately foregoing, i/2/.xiv. 8. 
 The fir-trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of 
 Lebanon ; faying, fmce thou art laid down, no 
 feller is come up againft us. This has a6tually 
 been done to the parallel place in Ezek. xxi. 14, 
 —17. which (with fome other texts as little to 
 the purpofe) is brought to prove a fcparate ftate. 
 Vniverfal Rejloration, p. 272. n. t. A different 
 explanation of this parable may be k^xi m Mr. 
 Bates Rationale of Or. Sin. c.xiii. § 6, 
 
 XIII. Luke XX. 38.— He is not the God oH\\Q 
 dead, but of the living, 
 
 . Anfw. He cannot be called the God of fuch 
 as be finally deadj but being ftill in covenant 
 with thefe, [Ucb. xi. 16. — God is not afliamed 
 to be called their God : for he hath prepared for 
 them a city.) they in effeB live to him, {Rom. iv. 
 .J 7, — who quickeneth the dead, and calleth thofe 
 
 • things^ 'which be not, as though they ivere. See Parry ^ 
 Defence of Bp. Sherlock, p. 77 ^ though not to 
 themfelves, or to one another : (if they did, our 
 
 . blefled Saviour's proof of a refurreBion from 
 thence, would be utterly deftroyed. Vid- Whitby 
 
 . on Matt. xxii. 3 1. or the Library. No. 14.) being 
 thc^Children of the RefurreBion, /. 36. and as fure 
 of a future life, as if they were aheady in poflef- 
 
 . Tion of it : in the fame manner as Chrift is termed 
 
 . the 
 
 i 
 
 APPENDIX. 421 
 
 the Lord both of the dead and living, Rom. xiv. 9- 
 and as he fays to the penitent thief; 
 
 XIV. Za/J^ xxlii. 43. 
 with me in paradife.- 
 
 To-day fhalt thou be 
 
 Anfw. To-day thou art certain of a place with 
 me m Heaven ; 'tis a thing aheady done and de- 
 termined : the words to-day being conftantly ufed 
 of any matter then fixed, fettled or declared; tho' 
 not to commence fome months, or even 'ages 
 after. Ge}t. ii. 17. _in the day that thou eateft 
 thereof, thou ihalt furely die. — Deut. ix. i. 
 Hear, O Ifrael, thou art to pafs over Jordan this 
 day. xxix. 13. That he may eftablifli thee to- 
 day for a people xmto him. Pfal. ij. 7. _ Thou 
 art my fon, this day have I begotten thee. Comp 
 Aas xiii. 33. and Heb. v. 5. with Sykes on hS. 
 App. 1. p. 244. The fame may be^ obferved of 
 *^nj3, Cras. 
 
 1 fhall add another interpretation of thefe 
 words, from the judicious author mentioned at 
 tne end of this Appendix; though it take up a 
 little more room than I was willing to allow my- 
 felf. ' The thief on the crofs, I make no doubt 
 was acquainted with Chrift, and had heard him 
 often preach. For he could fay. This man has 
 done aSev cctottov, nothing amifs ; nothing incon- 
 fiftent with his pretenfions as Mejiah. Probably 
 he had been one of his followers; and heard fuch 
 difcourfes from him, as John vi. declaring what 
 he had to give was eternal life, after the refurrec- 
 tion. This did not fuit the temporal expeditions 
 
 J) d 3 
 
 of 
 
422 APPENDIX. 
 
 of many of his followers, who then left him. 
 After he had left Chrift, purlumg his carnal 
 ^heme, he fell in with robbers ; was taken, caft 
 ' nto pr fon ; and then, having done with al earth- 
 k LJ he begun to reflet-^ upon, and rehfh 
 4at'h ' had he°ard from Chrift : but retammg 
 ft 1 a part of his Je^ifi errors concernmg tic 
 M#is kingdom, (^1^^ the -other of Z.^^^e s 
 children) he imagined Chnft could do no.hmg 
 U he was in adual polTeffion o Ins kmgdon^ 
 Lord remember me 'when thou cmejl tnto (or /«) /^ 
 SI i. .. e-"^- -' Comp. Matt XV. 2 -.) 
 and fee if an thing can be done in favour or a 
 poo/wretch'our Lord anfwers, You need no 
 fufpend your hopes till then; even at prejent, and 
 [n my low circumftances, I have authority to 
 l^Lu that you fhall have a place with me m 
 trldh ■ not in an earthly kingdom, but m para- 
 ^t word by which the y... moft tamiharly 
 a^d diftinaiy exprelTea the future ftate o^ed. - 
 nefs • I fay unto thee this day, t.mif..'uk, ^<^- 1 of 
 th-!slaft reading, fee Coteler. Vet. Mon.Tom. HI. 
 or Bowyer in loc, 
 
 XV. Luke xxiv. 39. - h^^^le me, and fee; for 
 a fp^u-it hath not fleftx and bones, as ye fee me 
 
 have. 
 
 • Jrlu'. Alluding to the vulgar notion of ^/Z^- 
 
 • • ,c ^Knve ?■ 77 — they were terrified, and 
 rttions, as above, > . 37- \"y 
 
 fuppofed they had feen a fpirit 
 
 XVI. ^<^n. 25. 
 
 from which Judas by tranf- 
 
 greffion 
 
 APPENDIX, 423 
 
 •greflion fell, that he might go to his own pbce j 
 
 tig TOV TOTTQV TOV lOlOV. 
 
 Jnfw. I. Some put e| 17V TrxfiQ-^ Uoxg, in a pa- 
 renthefis : for which reading, fee the authorities 
 in Bowyer s N. Teft. Corap. Harnvood Not. in ^oz 
 et Kyrke Obf. Sac. 
 
 2. If fpoken oi Judas, it may denote that ftate 
 of punifliment, to which his death configned 
 him ; and which is to take place at the day of 
 judgment. 2 Theff. \. 9. 2 Pet. ii. 9. _ But what 
 gelation can a foul unckathcd, have to place? 
 
 XVII. Am vii. 59. —. they ftoncd Stephen, call- 
 ing upon God, and faying, Lord Jefus recehe my 
 fpirit. 
 
 Anfw. i. e. my life. Col. iii. 3. With whom our 
 life is^ hid in God. If life, either/^/ or future, can 
 be faid to be hid with Chrift; why may it not, by 
 the fame figure, be received by him, committed to, 
 cr depofted with, and kept by him; as in 2 Tim. ii 
 12. and I Pet. IV. 10? 
 
 XVIII. 2 Cor. V. 8- — willing rather to" be 
 abfcnt from the body, and to be prefent with the 
 Lord. 
 
 Anfw. This is ftriftly true, fince time unper- 
 ceived making no diftance, or difference; the fea- 
 fon of each perfon's recompence, really coincides 
 with that of his death : (which is conftantly al- 
 lowed by thofe on the other fide of the queftion, 
 would they but as conftantly remember, and 
 
 o d 4 abide 
 
 *^ 
 
 If 
 
424 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A P P E N D 1 X. 
 
 425 
 
 abide by it) and therefore to be abfent from our 
 natural body, is to be cloathed with afpirkual 
 one : to ilepart hence is to be with Chriji. ib, 
 >'•. 4. nve that are in this tabernacle do groan, being 
 burdened; not for that ive •would be uncloathed, but 
 cloathed upon, that mortality might be fwalloived up 
 of life. The not being aware of this, was what 
 fo much embarraffed Whitby, ib. i'. 9. — That St. 
 Paul had no thought of an intermediate ftate, is 
 plain from the firft four verfes. (We know that 
 if our earthly houfe of this tabernacle were dif- 
 folved, we have a building of God, an houfe 
 not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens : 
 For in this we groan earneftly, defiring to be 
 cloathed upon with our houfe which is from Hea- 
 ven : if fo be that being cloathed, we fhall not 
 be found naked, &c.) As alfo from /. 10. plainly 
 referring all to the general judgment. See this text 
 together with the context, judicioufly explained 
 by Dr. Datifon at the end of his Lady Moyer's 
 Lefture, p. 267, &c. Comp. Alexander's Paraphr. 
 on 1 Ccr. XV. p. 35, 36. who has demonftrated 
 that the phrafe being abfent from the body can have 
 no relation to an intermediate fate, but rather de- 
 notes the life of Saints after the RefurreSlion. 
 The fame reply ferves for — 
 XIX. Phil. i. 2 1 , — 24. — to me to live is Chrift, 
 and to die is gain : — yet what I Ihall choofe, I 
 wot not : For I am in a ftrait betwixt two; hav- 
 in'^ a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift, 
 which is far better. Neverthelefs, to abide in the 
 fleih is more needful for you : 
 
 /.v.' It would be better for me to be immediate- 
 ly releafed from all my labours ; fince this to me 
 would be an immediate entrance into the joy of my 
 Lord; though to others, who abide in the fiefi, that 
 day is at a diftance; and at a greater diftance from 
 each, the longer he fo abideth; notwithftanding 
 that this great day (if we may be allowed to di- 
 ftinguifh between time relative, and abfolute) is 
 in itfelf one and the fame to all: neither fliall 
 they who die firft in that fenfe, attain to it the 
 fooneft; nor fhall they that remain alive to the 
 coming of the Lord, prevctit or precede them which 
 are afleep. i The/f.w. 15. That the Apoftle could 
 not be with Chrift in any intermediate ftate, is 
 fully made out by Alexander in his explanation of 
 this paflage, Paraphr. on i Cor. xv. p. 37, &c. 
 
 XX. 2 Cor. xii. 2. I knew a man in Chrift — 
 (whether in the body, — or whether out of the 
 body, I cannot tell—) fuch an one caught up to 
 the third heaven. 
 
 Anfw. This is a vifion, [/. i . — I will come to 
 vijions, and revelations of the Lord,] in which, 
 things w&YQ reprefented in fo lively a manner, as 
 to leave it doubtful, whether they had not been 
 really feen and heard ; in which he was quafi 
 raptus extra fe. vid. Philo, ap. Wetjlen. in loc. and 
 Farmer on ChrifT^ Temptation in the Wildernefs. 
 not. u. p. 21, 22. or Benfon, Hift, of the firft 
 planting the Chriftian Religion, V.ii. p. 7. 2d.ed. 
 
 XXI. Eph. iv. 9. Now that he afcended, what 
 
 is 
 
^26 APPENDIX. 
 
 is it but that he alfo defcended firft into the Iciver 
 parts of the earth? £<? kktuti^u nj? yti- 
 
 Anfw. i. e. at his incarnation. Vid. John iii. 1 3 . 
 — no man hath afcended up to Heaven, but he 
 that came dcton from Heaven ; even the Son of 
 man which is in Heaven, viii. 23. — ye are from 
 beneath, 1 am from above; ye are of this world, I 
 am not of this world. 
 
 XXil. 1 Pet. 111. J 9. By which alfo he went and 
 preached unto the fpirits in frifon, roig tv (pvXxxn 
 
 Anfw. Some copies have -a-vsvi/MJiy the other 
 reading refers only to the time of Noah, a preacher 
 of righteoufnefs to thofe perfom, that were then 
 tied and bound ivith the chain of their fins. Jfa. \\n. 
 7. To open the blind eyes, to bring out the /r/- 
 finers from the prifon, and them that fit in dark- 
 nefs, out of the prifon-houfe. vid. Lowth, ib. Ixi. 
 I. The fpirit of the Lord God is upon me, be- 
 caufe he hath anointed me to preach good tid- 
 ings unto the meek; he hath fent me to bmd up 
 the broken-hearted; to proclaim liberty to the 
 captives ; and the opening of the prifon, to them 
 that are hound, vid. Whith:;, App. to JlBs n. 27.— 
 That nrvii^ii^oL may mean on\y perfons, as in irtm. 
 iv. I. -n^Poo-exovTeg wvev/JLcccrt Tsrhocvoigj fee No. 1. a-r 
 . bove. 
 
 XXIII. iP^/.iv.6. For this caufe was the Gof- 
 pel preached alfo to them that are dead. 
 
 Jiilw. i. e. to tliofe who ^:;zx^ fpiritudly dead, 
 ^ ' or 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 427 
 
 or dead in trefpaffes and fins. Ephef ii. i. ' By the 
 dead I would underftand wicked perfons, efpeciaU 
 ly the wicked heathen referred to, f. 4. and who, 
 f. 6. arc faid to walk according to ?nen in the flefo. 
 — - So is the word ufed. Matt. viii. 22. Luke ix. 60. 
 I Tiw.v. 6. Rev. iii. i. And 'tis particularly ufed 
 concerning the Gentiles^ Ephef. ii. i,&c. and v. 14, 
 and Col. ii. 13.' Benfon in loc. 
 
 XXIV. Heh.^\.\o. God having provided fome 
 better thing for us, that they without us fhould 
 not be made perfeB. 
 
 Anfw. TsXsiuBua-iy not receive their reward ; 
 I T^heff.iv. 15, as above, No. IX. p. 409. which 
 makes for the other fide : or their number not 
 compleated'y as 'srXri^^jo6to(n, Rev. vi. 11. — That they 
 fhould reft yet for a little feafon, until their fel- 
 low-fervants alfo and their brethren that fliould 
 be killed, as they were, fnould h^ fulfilled ^ — which 
 comes to the fame thing : or, not attain to a per-^ 
 feB knowledge of the promifes. vid. Sjkes and Lim-^ 
 borch in loc. 
 
 XXV. Heb. xii.'23. — to the fpirits of juji men 
 made perfeB \ •an/eujt^acr* Sizo^ic^v rtrt'Kziuii^vm. 
 
 A7?fw. Either ye (hall have accefs to thofe who 
 havefnifjcd their courf, i. e. when they have ac- 
 cefs to God, after the final judgment; or approach 
 to the difpoftion of fuch as have attained to the 
 height of holinefs and virtue. j^^;;xvli.23. lyohji 
 iv. 17. For the latter fenfc of the word, fee fe6t. 
 vii. No. 5, and 6. p. 3S6, -^iS?. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 
 ''n 
 
IS 
 
 4?8 APPENDIX. 
 
 XXVL Sodom and Gomorrah are fet forth for 
 an example, fufFering the vengeance of eternal 
 fire. 
 
 Anfw. ' St.juJe did not mean that thofe wick- 
 ed perfons were then, and would be always burn- 
 ing in hell-fire. For he intimates that what they 
 fuffered, was fet forth to public view, and ap- 
 peared to all. as an example, or fpecimen, of God's 
 difpleafure againft vice. The fire which confum- 
 ed Sodom, &c. might be called eternal, as it burn- 
 ed till it had utterly confumed them. — A fruitful 
 plain was turned into cinders, and the veftiges, or 
 marks and traces of that defolating judgment re- 
 mained to that time^ do yet remain; and are 
 likely to remain to the end of this world. Benfon 
 in loc. 
 
 XXVII. Rev.wi, 9, 10. — when he had opened 
 the fifth feal, I faw under the altar the fouls of 
 them that were {lain for the word of God, and 
 for the teftimony which they held. And they 
 cried with a loud voice ; faying, How long, O 
 Lord, holy and true, doft thou not judge and a- 
 venge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ! 
 
 Anfw. An elegant profopopma, where the lives 
 of martyrs are reprefented as a facrtfice, accepta- 
 ble to God, which from the altar calls for ven- 
 geance; like the blood oX Abel HeLxn.2^. A like 
 profopojuvia may be feen in Pf. xvi. 9. My fejh 
 fliail reft in hope. Vid. Whitby in ABs ii. 27. and 
 Comp. No. I. p. 412. 
 
 XXVIIL 
 
 APPENDIX. 429 
 
 XXVIII. Rev.xw. 13. Bleffed are the dead 
 which die in the Lord, from henceforth, — that they 
 may refl from their labours, and their works do 
 follow them. 
 
 ^ A?ifw. Attoc^ti, on which the flrefs is laid, may 
 either be joined to the following word, as fome 
 copies have it ; with our Englijh margin : [from 
 henceforth faith the fpirit; yea] or to the fore- 
 going one, a7roQvwy>ovTig 'y and fo fignify, from 
 henceforth they may be deemed happy, who are 
 removed from the evils coming on the earth, /. 
 19, 20. parallel to Nu?nb. xi. 15. And if thou deal 
 thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, 
 if I have found favour in thy fight; and let me 
 not fee my wretchednefs. 2Ki?2gs xxii. 20.— I will 
 gather thee unto thy fathers; and thine eyes fhall 
 not fee all the evil, which I will bring upon this 
 
 place. ^ozChron. xxxiv. 27, 28. Ecclef. iv. i, 2. 
 
 they had no comforter;— wherefore I praifed the 
 dead, that are already dead; more than the liv- 
 ing, which are yet alive. Ifa. Ivii. i, 2. none con- 
 fidering, that the righteous is taken away from 
 the evil to come. He (hall enter into peace. Comp. 
 Wetfien in loc. 
 
 This may ferve for a fpecimen of fuch texts, 
 as are ufually alledged on the other fide of the 
 queftion ; all which will, I believe, appear even 
 from thefe ftiort remarks upon them, to be either 
 quite foreign to the point ; or pui^ely figurative > 
 or laftly, capable of a clear, and eafy folution, on 
 the principle above-mentioned; viz, that the times 
 
 of 
 
^3o . APPENDIX. 
 
 of our death and refurreaion, are coincident. 
 Nor can fuch ever fairly be oppolbd to the con 
 ftant obvious tenor of the facred writings ; and 
 that number of plain, exprefs paffages already 
 
 Cited. 
 
 I {hall only obf^rve farther, that aWphikfophical 
 
 arguments, drawn from our notions of matter, 
 knd urged againft the polhbillty of Ufe, thought, 
 and agency being fo conncaed with fome portions 
 of it as to conftitute a compound Being *, or per- 
 fon ; are merely grounded on our ignorance ; and 
 will prove equally againft known fad, and daily 
 obfervation ; in the produclion of various ani- 
 mals ; [oviparous and vegetable ones particular- 
 ly! (k) ; as againft the union of two fuch hete- 
 •'■* ^ rogencous 
 
 • See Bilhop Skrkd, Difc. ii. p. S6. Difc. tii. p. 114. 
 iV\ Spo Fllh'i Nat. Hift. of Corallinen of Spuugei, Ph. Tranf. 
 vi^LV XXXI add Vol. LVU. Pt. ii. XL. and tf.£/.«'s Amma 
 
 yrler Nat H ft. of Barbadoes, B. ix. p. 293, G««Ws Urt.ca 
 Flower. Na • H" • j^^ ^;j; ^„j g^,p,.^ je Zoo. 
 
 Marina. /'Mr,"^/. ^ 01 ^^^ ^^^ Organ.fes 
 
 r I'f Effay on tnimal reprodudions : and a curioas paper on 
 hmzams Luay on " r Vol. LXI. No. xxn. That 
 
 ,he f ""Xvati may be carr ed much farther than is ufually 
 itlrehTnded eCS Acad. Comment. Tom. II. P' /-.P- '"' 
 .PP nrFrumento — Duas partiom fpecies m triticea fanna de- 
 *'V,Tr;!e inter fe divcks; quaf fcparare, et utramque m 
 P^'^-Tno^ere pr^mTtiffimum efllt': altera crat iUarumrerum plane 
 medio ponere P~mp ^'» ^ „,hiiibusf>.lent extrahi; it=que in hac 
 
 fim.lis. 'i'^f.^^°^^''^^^X\o1^, dig„um : altera fie erat, ut non mf, 
 quiaem "'^•'erat adm m 0^ j ^^^,^„, 
 
 ab ^"■■P''- ^l.^S neq .e'tam mirabatnr id ita effe, quam 
 fane admirationem a»ul>t neqoe t ,„„ henf.ve view of 
 
 "k-^IIus fXa n,a/be had fn Dr. M^a,/.,'. 'sfa, on ,he Sufas 
 this curious luDjtci, n.a, ^.rhans mav «?et a little 
 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 431 
 
 rogeneous principles, as thofe of our own foul 
 and body are fuppofed to be. 
 
 Try any of thefe arguments [y. g. that from 
 extenjjon^ diviftbility^ or the I'is inertia,'] and fee 
 whether fuch a parallel do not ftrictly hold : 
 whether thefe fame qualities^ or powers ^ may not 
 be in fuch a manner united with the vital ones; 
 as to influence each other j full as well as the dif- 
 ferent yj/^'^i?;^^^^, ov fubjeBs oi t\\tm'y whether the 
 very fame difficulties do not lie againft a com- 
 munication in each cafe 5 or whether the word 
 SUBSTANCE helps any thing at all toward a fo- 
 lution of them (a). He that carefully attends 
 
 to 
 
 ^nd to all ends and purpofes the foul feemed (as the phrafe is) to 
 have taken leave of its body. Vid. Memoirs of the Dutch Society for 
 recovering drowned perfons. The like may be inferred from feve- 
 ral cafes of a long interrupted confcioufnefs in various diforders, 
 particularly that of fix months mentioned by Ct-oti/ax, and cited by 
 Mr. Beattie [Efiay on Truth, p. 83.] though he produces it for a very 
 different purpofe, and appears throughout, like fome others of his 
 countrymen, entirely devoted to the old dodrine of abftraft im- 
 material fabftanccd and their immutable identity, innate fen fes, im- 
 planted intHncls, &c. for want of having read any thing written 
 lately on the prefent fubjed, which might, 1 apprehend, lead thtrm 
 to a more jull, natural way of philofophifmg. 
 
 (a) One of the mofl candid and ingenious advocates for an in- 
 termediate flate, after he had judicioufly exploded the Scholajlick no- 
 tion of Su^Jiarce ^s v/hoUy f:eeMe/Sf [Lcgic^^ P«H'] finds it convenient 
 here again to introduce fomething like that, under the nameof ;^r/z7- 
 cip/e, in order to fupport his notion of the abftraft, independent na- 
 ture of the human Ibul ; by afiigning one fuch principle for ///>, and 
 a different one for thought, and agemy ; and he might with equal 
 propriety have affigned another for 'vegetatiofty fenfibility, Sec. and fet 
 up each of thefe on its own bottom, as a diftinft exigence ; or fuch 
 as might be fuppofed to continue in a ft ate of feparation from all the 
 reft. If this be not multiplying caufes, without necelfity ; *tls hard 
 to fay what is. 1 (hall give the paffage at length, Tiot with anyde- 
 iign of expofmg that very good man and worthy author; but merely 
 to (hew the weaknefs and futility of fuch conjedures, as feme of tlie 
 beft- Philofophers are forced to adopt, while they are building new 
 fyftems of pneumatolegy, .to boifter up an old fcholailkk hyppiheiis ; 
 3 and 
 
<$ 
 
 432 APPENDIX. 
 
 to the workings of nature, and fees from whence 
 the ideas rife in every being, and how oft the fe- 
 vcral clafTes of beings run into each other ; will 
 not hnd very much Vv^cight in arguments ground- 
 ed upon ontological diltinftions only. And were 
 there a thoufand fuch, all tending to eftablifli an 
 elTential difference between thefe two exiftences ; 
 at moft thcv could only ihcw, that the former of 
 them might pofiibly be conceived to fubfift apart 
 from the latter; i.e. be fuftained in a new man- 
 ner, and with new perfections, by the Deity; but 
 whether he will actually fo fuftain it, can, I ap- 
 prehend, be known only from his 'X'ord-, which 
 reprefents the thing, we fee, in quite another 
 lio-ht: nor indeed ever feems to countenance 
 thefe nice fpeculations, by treating ma?i in any 
 fuch intricate, abftrafted way. Let thofe, who 
 efteem it their great wifdom fo to do, go and learn 
 
 what 
 
 aad trvinr to pround tliefe on fome of the mofl popular cxpreflions 
 in a ficrcd writer. * As I acknowledge I am one of ihofc perfons, 
 who do not believe that the intelleaual fpirit, or mind of man, is the 
 proper principle of animal life to the body ; but that it is another 
 diUma, confcious being, that generally ufes the body as a habitation, 
 cneine* or inftrument, while its animal life remains; fo I am of 
 oDinion, it is a poffible thing for the intelledual Ipirit, in a mira- 
 culous manner, bv the fpecial order of God, to aft in a it ate of fepa- 
 ration, without the death of the animal body ; fince the life of the 
 body depends upon breath and air, and the regular temper of the 
 fulids and fluido, of which it is compofed. And St. Paul, feems to 
 be of the fame mind, bv his doubting, whether his fpirit was in the 
 body or out of the body, while it was rapt into the third Heaven, 
 and enjoyed that vifion, his body being yet alive. 2 C^^r. xii. 2, 3. 
 EfTay toward a proof of the feparate ilate o^ Souls. Watts's Works, 
 Vol I P 5^»- As wehavc here a//i;/>^^^^y, while thcloul IS ie- 
 rarated from it; fop. 34^ we find feparate fouls fuppofed.to be in 
 the fame Ilate of immemorial con/cir.ujnrjs [or thought without remem- 
 brance] ^/ the foul is ^ivhile the body /; in the dccteji Jhep : 1. e fo far « 
 relates to us, to all ends and purpofes of perfonality ; and for aught 
 we either do, or ever can know, in ?20 Hate oUcpfdovJr.tJs at all. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 433 
 
 'what that meaneth, whicli our bleffed Saviour fays, 
 in anfvver to a fubtlc query of the fame kind : Te 
 do err^ not knowing the Scriptures^ nor the power of 
 God. Matt. xxii. 29. Mark xii. 24, 27. 
 
 Give me leave to fubjoin the fentiments of a 
 very pious, v/orthy perfon, eminently well verfed 
 in the Scripture-language ; I mean the Reverend 
 Dr. Taylor, v/ho was pleafcd to write as follows : 
 ' I have pcrufed your papers upon an important 
 fubjeft, which wants to be cleared up; and which 
 cannot well be crowded wltliiii the narrow hmits 
 of a note ; but richly deferves to be expatiated 
 upon in a diftincl treatife. — They comprehend 
 two points, one upon the ?iatnrc of the human foul^ 
 or fpirit 'y fo far as revelation gives us any light; 
 the other, concerning tht fate to which death re^ 
 duces us. From the collection of Scriptures un- 
 der the firft of thefe points, I think it appears,' 
 that no man can prove from Scripture, that the 
 human foul is a principle, which lives, and acls,' 
 or thinks independent of the body. — As to the 
 other, the quelHon is, Do the fouls of men, when 
 they die, immediately enter either upon a ftate of 
 glory in Heaven, or upon a ftate of mifery in the 
 place of torments; and continue confcious," 
 thinking, enjoying, or fuftering, in the one or 
 the other ftate, till the refurredion ? Or do they 
 remain dead, without thought, life, or confclouf- 
 nefs, till the refurreftion ? Revelation alone can 
 give an anfwer to thefe queries : For whatever 
 the metaphyfical nature, elience, or fubftance of 
 the foul be; which is altogether unknown to us: 
 
 E e it 
 
434 APPENDIX. 
 
 it is dcmonftratively certain, that its exiftencc, 
 both in the manner and duration of it, muft be 
 whoilv dependent upon the will and pleafure of 
 God. ' God muft appoint its conneftion with, 
 and dependence upon any other fubftance ; both 
 in its operations, powers, and duration. All ar- 
 ..uments, therefore, for the natural niimortahty 
 of the foul, taken from the 7:aturc of its fubftance 
 or effence; as if it muft exift and aft feparate 
 from the body, hecaufe it is of fuch a fubftance 
 &c. are manifeftly vain. If indeed we do find 
 any thin<- in the faculties and operations of the 
 mind, to which we arc confcious, that doth 
 fliew it is the ivill of God that we ihould exift m 
 a future ftate; thofe arguments will ftand good. 
 But we can never prove, that the foul of man is 
 of fuch a nature, that it can and muft exift, and 
 live think, aft, enjoy, &c. feparate from, and 
 independent of, the body. All our prefent expe- 
 rience ftiews the contrary. The operations of 
 the mind depend, conftantly and invariably, up- 
 on the ftate of the body j of the brain in parti- 
 cular. If fome dving pcrfons have a lively_ uje 
 of their rational faculties to the very laft ; it is 
 becaufe death has invaded fome other part ; and 
 the brain remains found, and vigorous. But 
 what -"^ the fenfe of revelation ' You have given 
 a noble colleaion of texts, which fliew it very 
 clearlv — The fubjea Yi^-'Ws many pradical re- 
 •marks ; and the warmeft, and ftrongcft excita- 
 tions to piety.' — . , a- 
 But it might look like beggmg the queftion 
 
 Ihouid 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 435 
 
 fliould we draw out all thefe in form ; together 
 with the confcquences of this doftrine, in regard 
 to either papiJI or d'^f ; till the doarine it°elf, 
 wliich has been fo long decryed by tlie one, and 
 fo frequently difgraced by the other, fnall appear 
 free from the various prejudices that attend it j 
 and be at laft undcrftood to have a fair founda- 
 tion in the Jcrlpiures, by which we proteftani, pro- 
 fefs to be determined ; and when we have duly 
 examined them m:iy poffibly difcern, that the 
 natural immortaiify of the human mind . is neither 
 neceffarily conncftcd with, nor to a Chriftian, 
 any proper proof of 7i future ftate of rewards and 
 puniftiments. 
 
 I fliall conclude with a teftimony, which the 
 above mentioned truly candid and confcientious 
 writer bears to his adverfary, in this point. Re~ 
 marks, annexed to the ^cr. DoBr. of Or. S. p. 5. 
 * I tliink he is perfeaiy juft in affirming, that the 
 death threatned to Adam, was a total forfeiture 
 and extinaion of life; and that our prefent life, 
 and the refurreaion from the dead, is owing to 
 the grace of God, in a Redeemer: for this he\as 
 good evidence in Scripture; and honeftly defen-es 
 the public thanks of the Chriftian world, for af- 
 ferting it. For the removal of error, whatever 
 our prejudices may fuggeft, is fo far from being 
 hurtful, that it is of great fervice to religion.' To 
 the fame purpofe are Alexander's very j uft Obfer- 
 vations on i Cor. xv. p. 41, &c. 
 
 E e 2 
 
 POST- 
 
I« ' 
 
 ( 437 ) 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 SINCE thefe few hints upon the prefent 
 fahjeEt, have produced a controverfy, which 
 may probably be carried on a good deal farther; 
 though from what has been advanced on the 
 other fide, I have found no reafon to make any 
 confiderable alterations in the foregoing Difcourfe, 
 and Appendix; it might perhaps be now no im- 
 proper time to fet fome of the confequences of this 
 and the oppofite doftrinc in a fuller light; in or- 
 der to bring the true Hate of the queftion into view, 
 and thereby at length remove fome of thofe heavy 
 prejudices, which ufe to he againft it. But as this 
 ieems to be done fufficiently in a Ihort account, 
 publiflied in the Monthly Review for June 1757^ 
 I ftiall take the liberty to infert the conclufion of 
 that paper, and refer the reader to the reft. 
 
 As to the confequences of the prefent queftion, 
 about which fome well-meaning people feem to 
 have mighty apprehenfions ; it appears that on 
 the one fide, there is nothing more than a tem- 
 porary ceflation of thought ; which can hurt no 
 body, except the felf-intereftedpapift; whofe very 
 gamful fyftem is indeed, by this means, moft 
 cffedually overturned; or the felf-fafficicnt dcift, 
 
 E c 3 whofc 
 
K 
 
 438 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 whofe high claim to an inherent principle of im- 
 mortahty, fet up for him, as we have feen, by 
 fome mif-judging Chriftians to their own lofsj is 
 Ihewn to be no kfs vain, and groundlefs, 
 
 But on the other fide; there is a raamfeft dero- 
 gation from, if not a total fubverfion of, that po- 
 fitive covenant, which profefks to entitle us to 
 roerlq/Iing life. All proper and confident notions 
 of death, refurreaion, and a future judgment, 
 are confounded ; in fine, all the great fanftions 
 of the Gofpel, rendered unintelligible, or ufelefs. 
 Thefc, and a thoufand other difficulties do we 
 . bring upon ourfslves, in order to introduce a new 
 fcenc of exiftence ; v.hich, as it was of our own 
 invention, we might drefs up as we pleaf;d;_yet 
 have been fomewhat unhappy in the decoration. 
 For when we are raifing a toundat'on for it, by 
 our reafonings on the exalted powers of a refined, 
 immaterial principle, in abftraa ; (of which it 
 fecms to be the confcquence ; but was itfelf de- 
 Vifed merely to fupport this notion,) we make that 
 much more pure and pei fcdl, than it can be con- 
 ceived in an embodied ftate, [though in truth it 
 is all the while fuppofcd to be in fome fort of bo- 
 dy, and of a certain fiir.pe;] and fumifliitwith a 
 fuitably refined, pellucid vehicle, for its pktnah. 
 
 cr habitation, 
 
 But alas! when v.'e review this fubhme, airy 
 manfion, and begin to compare it witii the Scrip- 
 ture-account of the dead; it finks again into fome 
 fubterranean limbus, pit, or prifon ; we are forced 
 to reduce it all to a (late of exiftence fo extreme- 
 ly 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 439 
 
 ly low and imperfect, that it lies in the very next 
 line to non-exiftence ; a middle ftate between 
 fomething and nothing; and to all valuable pur- 
 pofes, fo wholly infignificant ; as to leave every 
 one juft in the fame fituation in which it found 
 him; with regard to any kind of moral ufe, or 
 fpiritual improvement whatfoever. If this then 
 be the cafe with the prefent fyftem, and it coft fo 
 much to eftablifti it ; — if, for the fake of fup- 
 porting fuch an idle, incoherent fcheme, we have 
 been giving up the peculiar benefit, and fome of 
 the principal parts of Chriftianity : — if we have 
 complimented natural religion with all the dif- 
 coveries, and all the privileges, that belong to 
 revelation ; it is no wonder that the warm con- 
 tenders for the former of thefe, have fo in- 
 different an opinion of, and are fo unconcerned 
 about, the latter; and that we have gained fo 
 little ground upon them in our late defences. If 
 this, I fay, be the cafe, (as may perhaps appear 
 here, and in fome other points not commonly 
 attended to,) it is fiirely right to look about us, 
 and fee whether things cannot be put upon fome 
 better foot. If we have hurt our own caufe, and 
 corrupted Chriftianity, by an impure mixture of 
 human wifdom, falfely fo called; or by the dregs 
 of heathen philofophy, defigned perhaps to en- 
 liven and exalt, but always tending to debafe and 
 poifon it (m); — if v^^e have difguifed the face of 
 
 (M) Thus, forinflance, when we loll fight of the original, obvi- 
 ous meaning of the word De^t^, as implying a cefTation of all natural 
 life, or being a real di/Tolution and deftra<^ion of the whole man ; 
 
 E e4 to 
 
••f 
 
 li. 
 
 440 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 it, or rather fubftitutcd fomething elfe in its 
 room 5 and thereby put amis into the hands of 
 infidels, which they have ufed but too fuccefsfuUy 
 againft us; — if this be fo; I alk, whether it is 
 not high time to examine our Bibles ; and try to 
 exhibit the true Chriftian plan, as it is there de- 
 livered, — and abide by it? to conlider, whether 
 we may not fafcly truft it to its own original 
 ground ; without any of thofc rotten props and 
 buttrefTes, which after-ages have been building 
 lip for its fupport ? Whether we may not fecurely 
 
 reft 
 
 to make fomething of Jils fentence, anfwerable to the folemnlty with 
 which it was den^mred, we weie obliged to turn this into a moral 
 Death, or vicious depiavauon of his nohleft part, the foul; an inhc- 
 rent principle of cciruption, derived in the grr^Hcft fenfc, .at tracfuce, 
 n'hci%:by even little children (whom our bencv':Icnt Lord blelles, and 
 
 God's wrath, and Iiriblc to eternal torments, lur uu ulmci lau^. v^- 
 cept that- of being born. Ic may likcwife merit coni^^^^^;^-"';^*]^- 
 thcr our keeping in view the propor fcnfc of the >/ De.tli de- 
 nounced in general to the race of Adam, may not dircft us to the 
 true import of thaty.aW Death which is threatened to all hardened 
 and inconii^iMe finncrs, after fome temporal punilhment, [Matt xi. 
 24.. Luke xil. 47.] to be infiided cverlaiUngly /;/ the lake ^huh bunt- 
 ,th i^ltbfin and brimftoue, Rev xxi. S. or as our bkifcd Saviour has 
 repeatedly exprclfed the fame thing, in hdl, and the fret bat never 
 pill he quenched, Mark ix. 43, 46, 48. Where it is remarkable, that 
 he adheres invariably to the lail words ot Ijaiah defcribing the fate 
 of all fuch advprfaries to God. upon their final overthrow; and 
 which perhaps may be tolerably underflood by the annexed inter- 
 pretation. Jnd thcyJJmll go forth, and look upon the carcajcsofthe mm 
 that have tranjgrcjed agamji me-, for their nvorm f^cdl not die, neither 
 foall their fire be quenched, and they JJjall he an ahh'.r.nig unto all fey^. 
 The prophet is alluding to the common cuilom ot conquerors ; 
 who. having gained a dccifive battle and driven the enemy out of the 
 fiHd 00 fonh to view the flain ; whufe dead bodies fhall, accordmr 
 tJtiv/two different ways of difpofing them, either be interred, and 
 lb eaten up with worms, which continue preying on them while 
 rhete is ar.y thing to devour; or hi.med in a fiic, that ceafes not till 
 thcv be utterly confumed, and reduced to afhes ; and thcieby become 
 -I lailipg monument of Divine JuHice, and a warninj to the reJt oj 
 the world* 
 
 postscript:. 
 
 441 
 
 reft upon that folid rock of a refurre^ton^ with- 
 out any of thofe vifionary profpefls, which ima- 
 gination is ever apt to furnifli us with ; but which 
 will ever fail us on a thorough trial ? Whether 
 t\nsj]neld of faith ^ is not fufRcient to prote(5t us; 
 and if relied on, would not make our pofture of 
 defence more eafy, and commodious ? Nay, whe- 
 ther, by this means, we might not be able to re- 
 move the feat of war into the enemy's quarters ? 
 •— drive the adverfary out of all thofe holds, 
 which v/e have fo long yielded to him 3 and from 
 whence he has ever lince annoyed us ; • — ftrip him 
 of all that armour, in which he now boafts 5 and 
 plunge him into that abyfs of darknefs and de- 
 fpair, out of which the feeble forces of his own 
 frail reafon cannot refcue him 3 nor any profpecl 
 of relief be found, till, confcious of his natural 
 weaknefs and mortality, he becomes convinced of 
 the want of fome fupernatural ftrength, to fup- 
 port him under all the doubts, and terrors inci- 
 dent to it; till at length he fees the neceflity for 
 fome fuperior guide, (as every ferious, thought- 
 ful theift foon muft,) to conduft him through this 
 gloomy fliade of death ; and fet himfelf in good 
 earneft, (as it is hoped all fuch will) to feek after 
 that light which came down from above; and 
 which alone can lead him to the light of everlajiing 
 life. Some part of the Author's apology publifh- 
 cd in the Monthly Review for May 1760, when he 
 took leave of this fubjecl, may perhaps not un- 
 feafonably be here repeated, and ferve for a con- 
 clufion of the whole. The author whp ventured to 
 
 revive 
 
 if 
 
I 
 
 ^ 
 
 '4 
 
 .? 
 
 44^ p o s r sc R I p r. 
 
 revive this dreaded Do6lnne, and attem2:)tcd to 
 rcicLic it from fome of the ugly confccjucnces 
 ufualiy afcribed to it, lias oilcrcd liich Jiints, both 
 from Scripture and Rcafon, as may enable thofe 
 tlvat arc difpofcvl to view it with impartiality, in 
 cither light, to come at a fair dccifion: being peiv 
 fuaded, that if every one v/ho takes the fnbject in 
 hand, were as calm and difpaflionatc as the Letter 
 .Writer,(thcRcv.Mr.7>V/7A,v/0 this and all points, 
 of the like nature might foon be brought to a fa- 
 tisfactory conclufion, without endangering the '• 
 publick peace: and if we dill happened to differ in 
 interprcring fome parts of the Gofpel, we fliould 
 nevcrthulefs unite in tJie genuine fpirit of it, by 
 bearing with and affifting one another in love. 
 But if lie has judged wrong of the general temper 
 of the world ; or if at this day, prudential reafons 
 render it improper for llicli quellions to be agi- 
 tated; l:v: readily fubmits to better judgments, 
 nor would affect to appear more v/ife tlian his fu^ 
 periors He is very far from being contentious; 
 yet has cin ardent defirc of doing Ibmc iervicc to 
 the Caui;: of Chriftianity in this day of diilrefs, 
 when it *s clofely attacked on all fides, but ever- 
 (as has been frequently obfcrved) with mod fuc- 
 cefs through that impure mixture of human doc- 
 trines and heathen traditions, by which it appears 
 to have been very much difguifed and defiled: and 
 he muft efteem it his duty to promote aiid cn^ 
 courage every fair, modefl enquiry, lio\y far this^ 
 may be really the cafe, and what may prove the 
 moll- eficjlual method to relieve it. lie hopes to. 
 
 be' 
 
 -1^- 
 
 I 
 
 
 P S T S C R I p Y; 
 
 443 
 
 be excufed for dwelling fo largely on thcfe two 
 capital points, our Fall in the firll, and our llc- 
 covery by the fecond j^Jam ; together with that 
 account of our frame and deflination, which he 
 has lomi conceived to have a juft foundation in 
 the Scriptures, and to be of confcqucncc in ex- 
 plaining the true ufc and import of Chriftianity, 
 as tlicre delivered; and how fiir he has fuccecded, 
 he now leaves to the publick judgement, without 
 jnore debate; being not very eager of obtruding 
 his fentimehts, where they are obferved with re- 
 lui5lancc; or fond of forcing his way through a 
 crowd of adverfaries ; or pleafed with continuing 
 in a fituation like that of tlie jrcvs under Nc/jc- 
 luiah, obliged to rcork rcith one hand in the rubbifli, 
 and ii'ith the olhcr to held a rcccipon. 
 
 lie had fuch a favourable opinion of tlic prc- 
 fent times, as to make fome trial of their difpofi- 
 tion ; and was tempted to rely upon that liberty of 
 propbefyingy which feems to be wifely indulged by 
 our Governours, to their own great honour, and 
 the publick benefit; and vvhich has remarkably ac- 
 celerated the progrefs of religious as well as all other 
 knowledge in this, above any fonr.er age: but if 
 he has miftaken either their Temper, or his own 
 Talents, which is very poffible; prefummg too 
 mueh on appearances, and pufhing matters be- 
 yond what even the prefent times, greatly im- 
 proved as they moll certaiidy are v/itliin our me- 
 morv, v/ill bear: if he has deviated too far from 
 the common road, fo as to have given unnecedary 
 ofFencc to thofe that arc otherwifc minded s fuch 
 
 will 
 
 ^ r 
 
 \J-tL-^^.4 
 
 If ■,|^C■*^&'J^W'^ 
 
'^'^rlJV^/^--^ 
 
 
 V !g J- 
 
 444 .P O S "T S C R I P r. 
 
 will find him willing to make all tlic reparation 
 in his jjowcr, by af luring tlicni that they may reft 
 fcairc as to him, from any more diiturbancc of 
 this kind; fince lie is equally unwilling, to rob 
 any good men of the fatisfaclion they enjoy in 
 populr.r opinions, as to expofe himfclf to popular 
 odium by pcrfiiling in drawing the Saw of con- 
 tentior. upon this or any other point of unavail- 
 ing controvcrfy. Comp. S. Beam's Advertifemcnt 
 prefixed to his Difcourles in 2 Vols, with Serm. 
 X, XI, &c. and tlie late excellent piece, entitled, yl 
 fiortbiihricd Vicio of the Co?ifrove7-fy. 2A Kd. or 
 A icanthig againll Popilli DocT.rinc's, 1767. * 
 
 rt 
 
 T II E \l N ]:>, 
 
 ■-•} 
 
 i 
 
 IN D E .X. 
 
 . I 
 
 f f-r 
 
 ;i' 
 
 A. 
 
 ABEL, the dillindlion between his ofFering, and that of Cain, on 
 what founded, p. 5 z. A proof that animal Jacrifice was appointed' 
 by the Deity, 53. ' ' • ; - 
 
 Abilities of pcrfons in g(incral fuited to their (late, 8 — 10. An equa- 
 lity in them would be prejudicial to fociety, 11 — 14. 
 
 A B I .M B L K c H , two kings of Gerar of that name ; flievy a proper fcnfc 
 of religion in v^^r^-^/^^w's time, 73. ' ;i> 
 
 Ahri^incs, the pretence of being fuch in any people founded on their 
 ignorance, no. 
 
 Abraham, the reafonof his call, 6S— 72. The general covenant 
 with his feed, 69, efpecial one with part of them, ib, Thefc 
 
 • two very confluent, /^. Seledled for his fingular piety, /^. Dillin- 
 guifhed for the common benefit of mankind, ib. A fit inflrument 
 for conveying the true religion to the nations round him, 70. Con- 
 verfes on that fubjeft with tlie Egyptians, ib. Some who call them- 
 felves his dcfcendants there to this day, ib. Famed for a reformer 
 all over the eaft, 71,72. The Laced a:tnonians retain the memory of 
 him above 1600 years, ib, Brachmans probably defcend and de- 
 rive their name from him, ib. Perjians keep pretty clear of grofs 
 idolatry by his means, ib. He was let into the various counfels of 
 the Almighty, ib. The punifhment of the four wicked cities, ib. 
 The redemption of mankind, ib. The plan of it probably ex- 
 hibited to him on the very place where Chrill fufFered, 72. The 
 true do>.'bine prefcrvcd and propagated by his family, 73. With 
 whom God holds very frequent correfpondence, 78, 79. Divine 
 revelations not wholly confined to them, 72. Pays homage to 
 Mt'hhizfdecky or the patriarch Shef?iy ib. Confines his view for 
 fome time to temporal profpeds, 82. State of religion in the 
 world about his time, 82, 83. 
 
 Alfolute pcrfcdion, in what icwf^t it may be afcribcd to the law of 
 natUiC, 4, 5. 
 
 Aiaeicmics flourifli among the Jcn-vs in the moll corrupt times of their 
 government, 125. llow many iwyeru/alcmy ib. 
 
 A:ia of the Rcnan procurators, 130. 
 
 A^'itc: often implied in the attainment of knowledge, 18. Hence 
 the ikafure accompanying fuch attainment, ib. Revelations by 
 adion, 77. 
 
 Adam, his ibite of innocence, 48, 49. Held frequent communica- 
 tion with the Deity, ib. This interrupted on his fall, ib. His 
 notions of religion, 60, 61. A fyftcm of morality fuppofed to be 
 delivered to him, 56. Evidence of his being the firil man, 59. 
 Infiruded by oral revelation rather than infpiration, 48. Dired- 
 cd to a form of worftiip hy fucrificcy 50, 51. What that implied, 
 ib. What his curfe, 40, i 12, 346 — 7. Opnofed to Chrill:, who 
 ri^'crfes it, 348. Why lo great llrefs laid on his firll tranfgrefiion, 
 2b2, What he mi:;ht learn from the tranflation of i'zz^r-^, 61, 
 
 Noc 
 
 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Not fupenor in knowledge to his poaerity, 64. A (late of more 
 toil became necefiary on his fall, 202. How many generations 
 between him and King George 1. 210, 21 1. 
 
 5;r; \ri!flVo/ralTud;d to by Chrift. ^^, That aboHfhed by 
 the Sanhedrim, ib. Common among the Je^, in Chnjts time, 
 who taxes them with it, ib. Not the fole ground of divorce, 
 
 ^scuLAPivs, the tradition of his going about the country with a 
 do2 and a ^^t, 2.7. fcews in what a low ftate/W ^='V"r l!' 
 day, ib. The fame evident from the noaon of a god of phyfick, 
 his temple, &c. /^. vid. Medicine. , . ,■ r ., 
 
 V.^/»^ whence they arife, .0, . .. Whence their diverfity, ,b. 
 
 X in which Chrift came, the circuniftances of it, .52 .53. the 
 moft knowinc, 1 30. and moft wicked, 1 17, 1 18. efpec.ally in Ju- 
 X ,rTri Thefe two things not inconfiilent, 128. Teftimo- 
 tC\ of the fLa 1.7. One of th« reafons thereof, ib. Proofs of 
 Sit Sednefs, ..7, u8. Fitteft for/uch an inftitut.on. 
 as it wanted it moft. both in morals and religion, . 19- 124. wa5 
 ^oft Tbie to receive and propagate it, ,25-1^9. beft qualified to 
 «:amine no. n6. confirm and convey it to pofterity, i,;7. 139- 
 TTcharaae; and circumftances of the Jc'ws fuited to that par- 
 
 ticular time, 140— 144* 
 
 jf<re goUen, v/hat, 202. 
 
 /fer/' of men. v'ld, Lon^^'vify* 
 
 £e of the world, compared to that of a man, t,^. advancing in pcr- 
 ^eftion, /*. by flow dt:grees, 43, 44. State of the firft ages, 224-5. 
 Their notions of religion fuited thereto, ib. Their profpeft of 
 a redemption, 225. Means of preferving it in their minds, 226. 
 
 Atency inconfiftent with a fixed immutable ftate of nature, 15, 16. 
 
 Air, whether Icfs temperate than heretofore, 202. 
 
 Alcoran, vid. Mahometans. •».!.-. 
 
 Alexander comes to Jern/akm, 97. admits many Je-^s into his 
 
 army, ;* his empire on its dilloktion difperfed the Grec^ philo- 
 
 fophy all over AJia, \-jb. 
 
 i/zJ^r^rChriS wrtters borrow that way of interpreting Scripture 
 
 from Philo, 159- 
 ai I IX fDr ^ cited 8q. 102. 134. . „. , 
 
 AlUns made by Chrift to the things before him, the time of the day, 
 
 fcafon of the year, fynagogue-fervice, folemnities, &c- 309-322. 
 
 Whether his death is termed a facnfice only m allufion to the 
 
 T^Tv///^ worlhip, 276. rt .1 r 
 
 Alphabetical xynim^.^^^t^ firft difcovered, 147. U.S. vid Letters 
 Americans, refleaions on their barbarity to captives taken m war, 
 
 2''9, Not made wicked firft by Chrijiiam, 31. 
 
 Amufcmenti. vid. Ele?ance, , , 1 • r n 
 
 "Li^v between religion a>nd the courfe of nature, holds m refpeft 
 
 to various improvements, 1 80. By it we argue from this ftatc to 
 
 another, 2S3- , . „ . , 
 
 AnaMxy, its ftate among the ancient Esyptws, 216. _^„„-„rf/. 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Andenisy who properly fuch, 39, 197. The reverence due to them, 
 ih, and i6i. found to be lefs knowing the more narrowly their 
 ftate is looked into, 212. The gigantick tafte prevailed both in 
 their arts and frame of government, ih. excelled in general by 
 the moderns, 223. Whether they were fuperior in point of ^^zwW, 
 223. How we may be faid to outlive them, 219, 220. 
 
 Angel appears to Ada?n, 49. 55. and to the patriarchs, 73. 79. to 
 Balaam in a vifion only, according to MaimonideSf 'j6, 77. often 
 feen in the infancy of the world, 54. 59. Neceffity for it, 158. 
 Condudls the Ifraelites^ 87. probably thriji himfelf, ib. 
 
 Animal food ufed from the beginning of the world, 54. Animal fa- 
 crificcs, the intention of them, 5c. not of human invention, ib. 
 and 52. vid. Sacrifice. Animal z.n6. vegetable world linked toge- 
 ther, 430. 
 
 Anthropomorphites, many fuch in the infancy of the world, 59. that no 
 difcreditable notion even in the primitive church, ib, 
 
 Antichrifi, his rife and fall, 178. 
 
 Antiquity, moft nations and families affedl to carry it as high as pof- 
 fible, 209, 210. What reverence due to it, 39. 161. 165, 166. 197. 
 What age intitled to that reverence, ib. A too fupine refignation 
 to it the greateft obfbu6lion to truth, and bar to knowledge, 168. 
 that arifes not out of modefty, but mere lazinefs, ib. 
 
 Apparitions frequent in the iirft ages, 55. 59. NecefTity for it, ib. 
 The notion of them originally well founded, 78. though for many 
 late ages very fufpicious, ib. the conftant belief of fuch made fome 
 real meflage from heaven neceifar}', 297. 
 
 Appetites natural, why fo called, 10. whence formed, ib. 
 
 Arbitrary , nothing fuch in the divir.-J difpenfations, 188. 
 
 Archery, why laid aiide, 207. 
 
 Architcdurey whether ancient or modern more perfe£l, 212. 
 
 Argufnenty Chrijliafiity not founded on it ; Anfwer to that book, 20. 
 
 Arguments have a phyfical efFedl on the mind, I2. That from ana- 
 logy the beft proof of an hereafter, 253. 
 
 Aristotle, a remarkable declaration by him before his death, if 
 the account be genuine, 1 14. Tradition of his converfing with a 
 
 *ycnvy ib. 
 
 Ark of Noahy continued feveral ages after Abraham a monument of 
 the deluge, as well as model for (hipping, 67. 
 
 Armies, why thofe of the ancients were fo numerous, 213. 
 
 Artificial virtue, what meant by it, 255. How far it will anfwer our 
 purpofe, ib. 
 
 Arts improved, flowly and gradually, 42, 43. 217, 218. fpread from 
 one center, 211. increafed fafter in proportion as mens lives 
 fhortened, 227. have connection with each other, 223. no valu- 
 able ones ever loft again, 206. Whether religion partakes of the 
 like improvements, 44. 46. 226. In what refpe6l thefe differ, 47. 
 A lift of fuch as have been greatly improved by the moderns, 223^ 
 Whether fuch improvements are injurious to morals, 253. 
 
 Ajjenty how far ncceffary, 17. 
 
 AJfociaticnSy the ground of what is called natural appetites, 12, 13, 
 
 and of the human conftitution in general, ib, not altogether me-. 
 
 6. chanical, 
 
 I 
 
 
1 N D E Xv 
 
 . , ., 1 ,Q «.i,Qt Kptween the inveftlgation of truth and 
 
 trott the\r ongS;'" Of- ^»>« chlf pnnciple of .o- 
 
 rals, 254. 
 >//?ro»o/«v of the C^/Vy^, 29. 214* - 
 
 ^TTf -ft V«f in what fenfe his death fuch,;^. . , ,. 
 
 ^.'iL'te poU^Tg" ing or with-holding it feems to .mply h- 
 
 ^«^5I: 'ag'e. for what remarkable. .37. vid. J^e. 
 
 ^"rr'of thel'urch in'^aicertaining the fenfc of Scripture, what, 
 ^iTTs- 268 of the Fathers, .60^. .62. ,68. Divine authonty 
 of the holy Scriptures, wlierein it confifts, 265, 
 
 B. 
 
 Babel, vid. -^^^l^^^"- „,;fhing ftate when the7^xcv were removed 
 Babylon in '"J^^^^^fXt Jmoval on them, 94. !«' empire not 
 thuher, 151- l^"*"^."' ,,' ,.. £„.£.. &c. no proof that arts 
 fo old as was pretended, 210. Its extent, &c. n p 
 
 were in extraordinary perfeaion there, 212. 
 
 Bacon, ^^■'^^'^^^JXTt,"^^^^^^ '*• ^^ --'='"''" P^^ 
 
 "rprcrmSt*n vi^n or trance ,iy6. Whether St..«.-3 
 
 account of one excludes this fuppofition, 77. 
 4/,> of infants, whether properly a drvxne inihtutton, 23. 
 
 5aw//, vid. John. ,. , . . „, 
 
 B arc H u s E N , de Lepra Mofaica, 232. 
 BtRR"NGTON (Hon. Mr.) on ancient manners, 246. 
 Bavle on reformations in religion, 166. on the •"•ncents 223. 
 jSAYLt uu it „„^i-„„ nn what the diftinaion tounded, 53, 54- 
 ''f heSXm id SoXstdl as their flcins for Ooathing .^. 
 «£vife much lefs propriety in offering them for facrilice, ,i. 
 
 !^*rof irat-kiTd^"qteti"n Chriftianity, 22. A right one how 
 ^t-f'requTflte, ii. A mional one neceflary, ,i. Objcftions anfwer- 
 
 cd, ib. and 24. , ^^^[f^i according to the com- 
 
 Be«cJ!ce.ce ^nj^'^'^^r.^^ \° 3,.! a»W's drollery on that head 
 
 rfured,';^ Th"e rul^ 'the fal.e with that of fomc eminent hea- 
 
 5^" r/'lhe ctiftian inftitution, 35. 36. n- of Chrift's death. 
 
 Belt's Suire acknowledgment. 55. Hence the >ntent an*! "fe of 
 Jienepts ""i ., ., »•* ;„ genera not produaivc of any, 2^ I. 
 ^.S:::tf jS^slnV^LrWeaion/ovv than ever f.nce th. 
 times of primitive Chriftiamty, 246. 
 
 Be«Ton- /r.) cited .9*. «f<;"«<l to. ,57. »S9- 3'S. 3^+- "7- ^^^ 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Bethesda pool, defign of the miracles there, 134. 
 
 £ilU, the only evidence of fuch antiquity as is to be our guide, 16 u 
 
 vid. Scripture, 
 Blair on Chrift\ Sermon on the Mount, 289. 
 BUjfing^ each prefent one a pledge of others future, 81. 
 Blood, the decree about abftaining from it related only to things in- 
 different in themfelves, 158. only temporary,/^. The life or foul 
 
 of man placed in it, 379. 
 Blood-guiltinefsy that confeffed in PfaL li. 14. relates to the murder of 
 
 iht MeJ/iahy 175. 
 BocHART cited, 54. 
 Body, the better known, the better able we are to preferve it, 231. 
 
 Diforders of it not increafed in general, ih. vid. Difeafes. 
 BoEHMER, his diflertations on the primitive church and ecclefiaftical 
 
 authority recommended, 162. cited 156, 157. 169. 243. 313. 
 BoLiNGBROKE, his letters on the ftudy of hiitory, 247. Eflays, 7. 
 65. 90. loi. 155. 2c6, 207, 208. 212, 
 ^BossuET, on the ufe of continuing t\\Qje-n35 and Samaritans, 175. 
 Boylk's leilure, the inftitution vindicated, 24. 
 Brazen ferpcnt, the probable import of it, and ceremony attending 
 
 it, 176. 
 Breathy the life of man placed in it, 380. 
 
 BuDDEus, de bonarum literarum decremento non metuendo, 230, 
 Burnet (B. L.) cited, i ©4. 
 
 C. 
 
 Cain, his offering in fome vifible manner rejefljd by the Deity, 51. 
 on what account, 52. 
 
 Calmet, on the perfon caught in adultery, 322. 
 
 Can A, marriage there. \\A> Marriage. 
 
 QhUhhii, a prieft of the true God there, 73. 
 
 Canaanites fpared till ripe for dcftrudion, 88. had thegreatefl means 
 ot information, 92. incorrigibly wicked when ordered to be extir- 
 pated by the Je^ws, ib. How far their punifliment reached, /A 
 and on what condition inflided, ib. why by thej^xu/, 93. Rea- 
 fon and necelFity of infliding it. ib. Ufe and propriety of doing 
 that by the fword, ib, of the Je-jjs, ib. This noc out of fpecial 
 favour, but for a warning to them, ib. Objedion from the Ca- 
 naanites^ not having proper notice, anfwered, 87, 88. 95. 
 
 Canon of interpreting the Scripture, the moll ufeful one, 326. 
 
 Captivity of the Je^.vs in Babylon^ its effed on them, 94. difperfes 
 them all over the eaft, 151. vid. Je^s. 
 
 Carthaginians no better than their anceilors the Canaanites, io5, 
 
 Casaubon, {}{.) 21 1. 
 
 Cast ALIO, his threefold divifion of the matter of fcripture, 267. 
 
 Celsus of the rife and progrefs of medicine, 217. 
 
 Center, mankind all fpread from one, 211. 
 
 Ceremonies, why fo many in t\\&je-wijh religion, 90. 
 
 Charaaerifticksy obfervatioft on the principle of morals advanced in 
 them, 251. The author of tl^m and of the Fable of the Bees in tv/o 
 oppofite and equally abfurd extremes, ib* 
 
 ^ i Ckaritj 
 
I N D E :5C. 
 
 Charity unites all Ch.iftlan virtues. i86. at a great height BbW, 
 ChJ^iy-fchools have greatly contributed to promote the kaowledge. 
 
 cS: rSnt trul c'h'rlLs in their humility and innocence. 
 ,fo become men earlier in thefc latter ages, 219. 
 
 CH^'°;srfrr from deferving the eXSV*'? Tht^'aU 
 Sil'Xlm;,"'^ 'a^d It Tt'caufe/of /heir ignorance 
 t Of the now progrefs of religion an.ongft them, f The'r 
 I^iil i?Ihtnology! geogranhy. mcchanicks. -^^^^^ • ?. 
 
 C l-Rrsrh^ofga Lt%S-'' Mi»thumiH.tion. .,6. 
 C H R I b / ?/'= °"S ,, -onfequence of difputes concerning the mo- 
 
 5;ro/th?;nion of h s diSt natures^.g- Ufe and excellence 
 
 i W nd^rtaking for us, .93. ^^c "eft -commodated o ou 
 •. L fitfpS to move our pafilons, 294. VV lience nis cna 
 
 X" J't 'to aSror: than e^.n that oVcod the Father^^' . 
 
 SVcumLncesoftheheathen^w^^^^^^^^ 
 
 eftiTe bfli o one medTato?. k Born perhaps in the fame 
 ;S'I£: his Father W ^^pt <heep l^^i^^';^^' 
 
 SiSferdin^i^i^^^^^^^ 
 ^"^'^•^'^rtr{rrjr&'^r;VyTK^^ 
 
 '?°e\"';i:c1 '° r^ HisHJuVofin the :Uderefs a .,>». 
 ^rWhv he hindered Tibeml proclaimed the M#«*, .41- y<:* 
 ti nJt d^fc aim that charaae?,^*. Why he did not open hi 
 J^mmiffion before either the Jc^ or Ron,an g-""°"^;;;,.^ 
 f .r„;i;!.r wav of converfinsr with his difciples, 287, &.c. ae^o""/'' 
 St r^on on themount,l9- Mixture of g.eatncfs and hum' 'tv, 
 ildnefsand feverity - his charaaer 29^ 300. -af^ ^^ ^^ | 
 
 'r'cf and ft«; ,08 fh efly coLerfant in focial duties, 307. 
 Pv"/^W and ufe ofthe pattern he fet, ib. and 308. compre- 
 
 "t is Xriot'ri:;;del-with all their circumftances ^^20 
 nor hi3 rcalhninss fet down at large, ,b. nor any dcdua.ons m.^Je 
 
 I N D E X. 
 
 from either, 274. The reafon of this, iB. The do£lnnes he 
 taught, III. his manner of tcdLzhmg—occafionally, 309, &c. many 
 inilances of it, 310. Ufe thereof, 320,-24, &c. — hy parables ^ 
 324. reafons for it, 325, Decorum and propriety of them, ib. 
 Antiquity and excellence of that way, ;^. — in figurati-ue ex- 
 preffions, 323 . and the words of fome Q\d prophet, ib. His knowledge 
 of men's thovghts, 330. inilances of it, ib. Hence often faid to 
 Afifwer, when no queflion is aflced, ib. fpeaks and ads in exaft 
 conformity to Je^ifi cuftoms, 326, 327. adapts himfelf both to 
 the language and opinions of the vulgar, ib. and 409. treats of 
 things ill the moll popular way, 326. his words to be taken in 
 the ordinary vulgar fenfe, ib. his dodrine plain, />ri2J7/c^/ and per- 
 tinent, 328. conlifts of moftfubilantial duties, general lules and 
 univerfal principles, ib. inilances of fuch, ib. i^ feq, his death the 
 ,confequence of owning himfelf to be the Mejpahy 281. whether 
 to be confidered as a propitiatory facrifice, ib. The nature and 
 defign of it, ib. properly voluntary, 284. why fo great (Irefs laid 
 on that lail ad, 282. Wrong notions concerning it, ib. feems to 
 include fomething vicarious, 286. yet may perhaps be accounted 
 for by an accommodation to the facrifical mode of worfhip, ib, 
 . compared to feveral parts of the Jewijh difpenfation, ib, but not 
 exadly conformable to any, ib. exceeded them all in its effeds, 
 ib. reprefented hy Chriji under the fimilitude of a Shepherd laying 
 donxin his life for the jheep, ib. The benefits difpenfed on occafion 
 of it refemble other parts of 'the divine csconomy. ib. 
 Chrijlianityy the import of that inflitution, 290. End and ufe of it, 
 16. an improvement on natural religion as well as former inlli- 
 tutions, 226. 293, &c. Method of propagating it, 15, &c. com- 
 pletely delivered at firll, but not fo underltood, 47, 48. Quaiifi- 
 cationb requifite to its reception, 28. and continuance in any 
 Country, 29. prepofterous methods of advancing it, ib. Caufes 
 of its flow progrels in China, 29. and 2 1 4. and both the Indies, 3 1 . 
 why not more univerfal, 15, &c. Oojedions to the method of 
 conveying it, ib. Want of univerfality laid the greatell flrefs on 
 by modern unbelievers, 42. given up atlall by Chubb, 17. equally 
 univerfal with the law of nature, 6, 7. Objedion anfwered, 7. 
 Why that cannot be fo, 8, 9, «5cc. Beauty and convenience of the 
 prefent fyllem, 10. 14. Inconveniences of communicating a re- 
 velation by immediate infpiration to each perfon, 15. — 26. — 
 Anfwer to Chrijlianity not founded en argument, ib. — or by a repe- 
 tition of miracles in every age, 27. to be propagated gradually, 
 ib. and by the common methods of inllrudion, 16, different to 
 different perfons, in different times, and places, 33. partakes cf 
 the temper of each, 30. 48. Cafe of thofe who have it' not com- 
 municated to them, 34. 191. Effeds which it will certainly pro- 
 duce, 112. Whether in this life or not, ib. general benehts 
 thereof, 35. extend to thofe under former difpenfations, 189, 190. 
 the dodrines of it, 111. Why not communicated to the world 
 • much fconer, 48. 109*. not wanted for fome time, 63. previous 
 difpenfations proper with regard to both Je^ and Gentile^ 117, 
 . X 14. delivered probably about the middle age pf the world, 1 15. 
 
 ^i^ Its 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Its evidence not perpetually decrcafing, ih. in the fulnefs of time, 
 log Maturity of the world, 129. in a period fitteil for thatpur- 
 pofe, lie. wanting it mod, 116,-124- and yet better qualified 
 than any of the foregoing both to receive, 130, 131. and tranf- 
 mit it down to pofterity, 1 30, — 1 37- The circumftances of the 
 Je^s peculiarly fit for that purpofe, 139, 140. as fubjedl to the 
 Romans, ih, and fuperlatively wicked, 141. 143. Standing evi- 
 dence of its truth from fo many of them rejeaing it, ib. State ot 
 the world at its promulgation fummed up, 147,-153- ^^ /^^ in- 
 fancy during Chrift's ftay on earth, 154. in its childhood under 
 the apoftles, 156. mixed with JuJaiJ?r:, ib. Extraordinary gifts 
 neceffary, 158. thefe fometimes mifapplied, /i^. mixed with j-f«/;/^ 
 philofophy, ib. The myllery of iniquity then working, 159. 
 This age in point of knowledge inferior to fubfequent ones, 160, 
 161. could not extend its policy till the Jeivijh church was de- 
 termined, 174. corrupted on its eftablifliment in the Rofnan em- 
 pire 159. 1 69. overwhelmed with Pcpery and Mahomctahi/m, 171. 
 yet even reformed in fome refpeds by the latter, 172. Schemes 
 of it in different ages, 171. propagated in a gradual manner both 
 externally, 173. and internally, 180. Objeaion from the dark 
 ages of Popery, 178. Where it has prevailed, it prevailed more 
 entirely than any other religion, 177. mixed with other fyftems 
 and hid under other names, ib. not in fo narrow a compafs now 
 as is imacrined, ib. Some traces of it in moil parts of the world, 
 ib refinel the notions even of thofe who do not formally embrace 
 it 184. its evidence not lefTencd by time, 115. The face of it 
 Hill miferably deformed, 186. 194. F.xtraordinary advantages 
 attending the reformation, 178, improving ever fincc, 179, 181. 
 Objeaion from the late growth of infidelity and prophancnefs, 
 18^ not yet arrived at its mature ftate, ib. defeds in its admi- 
 niftration, 184, 185. and the lludy of it, 264. 268. Remedies, 
 104. 257. 261. Some part of fcience not yet brought to per- 
 feaion which began to be cultivated before its commencement, 
 183. Privileges of it reach to the good men of old, 190. ^ 
 Chrijiiansy have upon the whole been always better than the heathens, 
 240. -^ primiti'vey how far they had the advantage of others, 161. 
 16-. How far to be followed in the interpretation of Scripture, 
 16 li 2. in the government and ordinances of the church, ib. and 
 162! Doarines and ufages in which every Chritlian church now 
 differs from them, /^. their proper authority, ib. foon degenerated, 
 16c, 6. a probable reafon why divine providence permitted this, ib. 
 Chrcnlloay the uncertainty of it among the ancients, 209, 210. 
 Chijbb confuted 7. 15. 301.. 3V- 3^7- ^^iT-^^f ^?"^^.^* him 304. 
 
 his remarkable teftimony in favour cf Chriil s cnaraaer, 308. 
 Chur'^ primitive, what deference due to it, 166. whqft its authority 
 in'af^certaining the fenfe of Scripture, 162, 163. may vary its go- 
 vernment and rights in every age. ib. Its hiilory when moll de- 
 feaive, 1 39. Every particular one wants amendment, 194. what 
 previcufly requifite to any material one in ours, 243. 
 Cicero his declaration of the great uncertainty ot moft things, 
 121 —2. makes it probable that the Fhilolopheri in general 
 
 were 
 
 I N D E X. 
 
 were Atheifls, 123. doubts of a providence, /^. denies the im- 
 mortality of the foul, 122. recommends fuicide, ib, ridicules the 
 fables about a future ftate, 1 23. his fentiments of true beneficence 
 317. the fame that Chriil enjoined, ib. 
 
 Circumcifton, whence derived by the Egyptians, 70, infifted on by 
 feveral Chriftians after the defcent of theHoJy Gholt, 155. con- 
 tinned by the bifhops oi JerufaUm till the time oi Adrian, 157. 
 
 Circumjiances omitted fometimes in the Scripture-Hiilory, 320. con» 
 fequences of it, 322. 
 
 Ci'viit^ation neceffary to the introduaion of Chrijlianity, 28. 
 
 Clagett (Dr. W.) 134. 274. 323. 329. 
 
 Clarendon (Lord) his effays cited, 39. \6i. 167 — 169. 241.24c; 
 257 — 260. 
 
 Clarke (Dr. S.) 76. 135. 308. 327. 
 
 Claffes of beings, as they rife above each other now, may preferve a 
 »like uniformity in fucceffion to all eternity, 233. 
 
 Climates, many more mild an4 temperate now than in former 
 times, 201. 
 
 Cloathing originajly of the fklns of beafls offered in facrifice, ct. 
 This of divine appointment, 54. The intention and propriety of 
 it, ih. r r / 
 
 Commerce fpreads the knowledge of religron, 28. 181, 
 Cammunication of good moral and natural, why fb unequal, 8, g, i* 
 14. of revelation, why fo partial, 15, 16. the fame objealons 
 againft any other method of communicating it, 26, 27. 
 Communication between God and man, conitant at £rfl, 49. interrupt- 
 ed at the fall, ib. more fiequent in eaily times, 54. 58. 73. with- 
 drawn as men became unworthy of it, 63. rellored in one fenfe 
 under Chrillianity, 29 1 . 
 
 Gompafiy difcovery of it contributes to a new publication of Chrif- 
 tianity, 1-8 1. 
 
 Confucius does the fame thing to the Chinefe as Socrates to the 
 Greeksy and about the fame time, 127. 228. fuppofed to be ac» 
 quainted with the Je^ivijh religion, 127. 
 
 Confufion of languages, the neceSity for it, 66. 
 
 Constantine, the confequence of his becoming a Chridian jufl 
 when he did, 130. the corruptions of religion in his time, 170. 
 
 Conftantinopky the confequence of its being made the feat of the 
 Eaftern Empire, 171. of its being taken by the Turh, ib. 
 
 Contro'verjres, what havock made by them about Mabo?net's time, 172. 
 
 Coromandel, the Je-jus on that coall have a temple refembling 
 Solomon' Sy I 5 I . 
 
 Corruption of the earth at the deluge, a vulgar error, 203. 
 
 Corruptions oft make way for greater foundnefs, 178. in relialon 
 gradual, as their remedy, 179. don't hinder it from being in^the 
 main progreffive, ib. thofe of the church in Mahomet's time, 172, 
 
 '73- 
 Co'vrnanfs between God and man, to be underftood as fchemes of 
 government, 52.281. the original one, 52. each a pledge of other 
 Jillant and fuperior ones, 81. The benefit of that made with the 
 
1 N p E X. 
 
 7*.w extended to all mankind, 103, 104. Advantage* of beipg 
 
 included in that of Chrift, 190. . 
 
 Cr«> on 'he decreaf.ng evidence for Chnftiamty,. I j. 
 
 Creftura, man's dominion over them, what nduded in it, 54. 
 God'6 or" inal dominion over them acknowledged by facnfice. 
 5. ConfSmption of them no objeftion to that being a divine 
 
 inftitution, 56. 
 Crbllius cited, 104. 311. 
 
 CumberLn^y (Bp.) cited, 59. ^ , 
 
 CurfeoiAdal, 50. 112. 189. reverfed by Chrift, 348,-9. of the 
 
 ground, removed at the deluge, 62. 204. 
 e!^Um, the ufual and beft plea for idolatry, j! 96. 
 Cujicmsy Jewijh in various parts of the world, 1 5 1 • 
 
 D. 
 
 D^mon o^ Socrates what, 3^5* ^^^^ '^"'T '^J'^f Iv orJaio"^ fh 
 fairs, ib. in indiiFerent adions, ib. was all either fancy or fiaion, tb. 
 
 Daivfon (Dr.) 409. 414. 
 
 Danv/cn (Mr.) 50. 54. 
 
 Day of the Lord, what it means, 364. 397. rkk-«A;««« 
 
 DcJ, flate of them defcribed in Scripture, 39^. Objedions 
 
 anlwered, 411, &c. 7 n-^^A 
 
 , Z>^^/>?», ;«.r«/ fubftituted in the room of natural, 439. ficond De<^tb 
 what it imports, ib, the Scripture- fenfe of that word, 34^-/. 
 brief anfwer to the arguments againft it from reafon, 430'-- 
 introduced by Adam. 282. whether mfliaed merely as a penalty, 
 ib. aboliihed by Chrift, 189. 34^. 3 50. why fo much of us power 
 fliU left, 350. note , a very ufl'ful difpenfation, tb, 3,3»4. 
 Nature, end, and ufe of it under the ^Jj"^^^^^^^^"'"'' ^jf • 
 
 No more now than a/../, 363. T^»^t ^"/^ '^^ ''^Tk rXn^ 
 cident, 1 56. 363. The notions held of it by many of the feeathen, 
 tc8. Scripture-fcnfeofit, 390,— 396, , i,,, /^ „,-nf 
 
 J>aih of Chrift, the manner of it, 284. voluntary, ih. why fo great 
 ^ftrefs laid on it, 282. whether it had the nature of a vicarious 
 facrifice, ib, the notion cleared from mifconftruaions /^^ not 
 merely an allufion to the legal facrihce., 284 nor as a teftimonjr 
 ^o the trutli of his doftrine only, ih. purchafed for us eteniall fe 
 283. a fcheme of divine government, 284. does «o^ imply the 
 - paying an equivalent, or infinite fatisfaftion to vindidive juft.ce, 
 . /^. fome refemblance in it to other parts of the divme economy, 
 
 Z).St whether any appearance of fuch in the earth or Jl^avens 201 
 VecL, no figns of it in the natural world, 205. Confequences of 
 
 fuDDofine it in the moral world, 244, 245. 247. 252.^ 
 D.r/^ how affected by the notion of a progrcfs m religious know- 
 
 Z)SbV^ihV^ the world in mercy both to that generation and 
 thiirpofterity,62. Refleaions naturally anftng from it, 64. did 
 not increafc the curfe of barrennefs on the earth, 62. 202. nor 
 iborten the lives of men, 203. ^-^ 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Pefirt^ the idea of it coimeaed with that of liberty, 17. the agree- 
 
 ablenefs thereof, ib. 
 De'votion, various ways of men's exprefling it, 55. Sacrifice a proper 
 and a necefTary one for the primitive times, ib. Forms of it 
 among the heathen improved after the publication of Chriftianity, 
 J 84. more rational ones now than in former times. — 247. That 
 of Chrift, a fpecimen of it, 288. ours, why apt to be more raifed 
 >vith the contemplation of Chrift than even of God the Father, 
 293. 295. 
 
 Dio Cassius, his account of the J^-ivj under the Roman govern- 
 n.ent, 99. 
 
 Difciples of Chrift, the lownefs of their capacity and views, 2S3. 
 
 288. his intent in chufing fuch, 287. difiiculty of dealing with 
 them, ib, manner of his converfing among them, 288. 
 
 Difcordy probably occafioned the original difperfion of mankind, 66, 
 
 Di/co'veries, all times and places not alike fit for them, 237. their 
 progrefs gradual in the main, ib, thofe of modern times greater 
 in proportion, 230. 
 
 Di/ea/es do not in general multiply, but rather our obfervatlons on 
 them, 231. if fome new ones arife, old one ceafe, 232. the art of 
 curing them founded wholly on experiments, 216, 217. not 
 defigned to receive the fame improvements with other arts, 231. 
 Vid. Medicine, 
 
 pi/obedierice oi Adam, why the firft aa of it had fuch a penalty, 282. 
 
 pi/orders of body and mind, do not increafe in general, 231. Vid. 
 Di/ea/es, 
 
 pi/pen/ations of religion, all in their proper times, and each fubfe- 
 quent one an improvement on the former, 48, — 82. never better 
 underftood than at prefcnt, 182. analogous to thofe of provi- 
 dence, 183, 
 
 pi/perfion of mankind, the occafion of ir, 66. NeceiTity for it to 
 check the progrefs of idolatry, /^.— of \\\Qjevos, the^reat means 
 of propagating the knowledge of the true God, 96. 
 
 Di/po/itionsy whence formed, 10, 11. fuited to a perfon's ftate in 
 general, ib, 
 
 pi/qui/itiansy free and candid, 243. 
 
 Dijlempersy Vid. Di/ea/es, 
 
 pi'uer/tty of orders, necefTary for fociety, 8. — of genius, whence It 
 arifes, 9, 10. of religion, how far unavoidable under the prefent 
 conftitution, 33. 
 
 Divination in contempt about our Saviour's time, 134. 
 
 Di'vi/bility not inconfiftent with a power of thinking, 431. 
 
 Di'-jorce not neceftarily reftrained to the cafe of fornication or adul- 
 tery, 328. 
 
 pudritii of Chrlftlanity, of what nature, 1 1 1, 201, 2. why not de- 
 livered in a fyftematic method, 1 11,— of Chriit, the excellence 
 
 . thereof in various refpcas, 328. 
 
 Doddridge (Dr.) 264. 267. 302. 314. 318. 
 
 Pominion of God, his original one acknowledged in facrifice, 51.— 
 of man over the creatures, what it implied, 54. fome of no ufe to 
 him, but for food^ ib, 
 
 F ^4 Dnam^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Dream, revelations made in it not always diftinguifhed from real 
 
 fads, 76. /. 1 00 
 
 DucHAL (Dr.) cited, 274. referred to 288. 303. 
 
 Sr/L'of aSiil^Ld, moil univerfally beneficial, 306. Pattern of 
 them fet by our bleffed Saviour, 307, 308. 
 
 E. 
 
 Earth, whether lefs fruitful now than formerly. 202, - 205. Whether 
 the curfe on it was increafed. or taken off at the deluge, 202. 
 Why not more fully peopled, 204. 
 
 E^iMn writings, their charaaer, 326. 
 
 £c/ip/es, the ignorance of the Chinr/e in relation to them, 29, 30. 
 
 £^ei what might be gathered from the tranfadion in it by our firft 
 parents, 60. the place might be vifible for fome time, t^. 
 
 Education, more early now than formerly, 219. 
 
 Edwards (Dr. J.) on the Fathers, 167. 
 
 Edwards (Dr.) on Grace , 36 0. 
 
 EJecls of Chriftianity, 1 1 17183, 184 , 239. . ^ , . , 
 
 Egyptians converfe with Abraham, 70. probably receive from him the 
 rite of circumcifion, ih. their puni(hment in Mo/es s time a real 
 blefllng to them and their neighbours, 86. the notions of a 
 future ftate derived to them from the Greeks, 120, 121. their fail? 
 pretences to antiquity confuted by Mcfes in many articles, 208. 
 f-9. their learning, 211, 212. their fkill in phyfick, tb, and 
 
 Egypt, the mother of arts and miftrefs of religion, 215. its anti- 
 quity fabulous, ih. confuted by MJes, 208. its antient learning 
 not fo great as ufed to be imagined, 215. acquainted with the 
 worlhiD of the Jeius by the temple of Onias, 98. V. Ptclemy. ^ ^ 
 
 Elegance, 'its eftea on fociety, 222. whether we are arrived at itsjuft 
 
 Sandard, ib. 
 Ellis, his natural hiftory of corallines, 430. 
 Empire (Roman) the ftate of the Jeivs under it for fome time, 99. 
 its extent and fcttlcir.ent contribute to the fwift propagation ot 
 Chriftianity, 129, 130. when its head became a convert it gave 
 Chriftianity a large fpread, 130. previous difpofition of it to that 
 purpofe, ib. its bringint^ the >av/ under fubjeftion, a remarkable 
 circumftance very requifite to the completion of prophecies re- 
 lating to the Mefud^, 138, 139. 14^. introduces its pomp and pa- 
 rreanfrv into Chriftianity, when that becomes eftablifhed, 169. 
 en its 'dillbhuion fcattcrs Chriftianity abroad with it, 176. and 
 Liberty, ib. often exceeded modern times in cruelty, 246. 
 
 Enoch, what might be fairly inferred from his tranflation, 61. 
 
 Enthufiafm, the confequcnce of propagating religion by immediate 
 inipirations, 16. unavoidable in any other method but the prcfent. 
 ib the nature of it in general, 17, 18, 19. nothing that leads to 
 it in the Chriftian inftitution, 19, 20. Anfwer to Chriftianity not 
 founded on argument, 20, - 25. Lord Shafffiurfs fyftcm of morals 
 
 runs into it, 292. /. « r v 
 
 En-vy iipt 10 prevail in decrying the prefent Ilate of things, 244. 
 ^ + *^ h^icurean 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ■v 
 
 Epicurean philofophy rendered the notions of a Deity ufelefs, 124. 
 Episcopius cited, 72. 
 
 Equability in natural religion, confequences of it, 13. 
 Equality'm natural religion impoffible, 6— 14. in natural good in- 
 confiftent with moral good, 14. in the abilities of men pernicious 
 
 to fociety, 10. 
 Eftablijhments, the confcquence of long neglefting to review them, 
 
 242. Reafons of fuch negled, 243. Room for examining our 
 
 own, ib. Helps toward it, ib, 
 Efteem, the notion of it includes liberty, 17, 18. 
 Evangelifts do not record our Saviour*s difcourfes at large, 274, nor 
 
 add all the circumftances to his adions, ib. nor make dedudions 
 
 from them, 275. The wifdom of that condud, ib, Defign of 
 
 each Gofpel, ib. 
 Evidence, a moral one fufficient to eftablifli the truth of facred 
 
 hiftory, 266. That of Chriftianity not a decreafmg quantity, 115. 
 E'uil, Adam knew how it entered into the world, 60. 
 E'vil one, the dominion over him afferted by God Almighty in 
 
 Paradife, 60. 
 Euripides, his free treatment of the poetic deities, 337.— often 
 
 diftinguifhes them from the true God, ib. 
 Examination requifite in all religious matters, 23. that which was 
 
 made into the grounds of Chriftianity at firft, gives the ftrongeft 
 
 confirmation to it in all fucceeding ages, 136. 
 Expc£lation of the MeJ/tah, whence it might arife, 144. the effeas of 
 
 it, 145 . no particular qualification of the time, fo as to confirm the 
 
 truthof his miflion, 145. 
 Experience muft neceffarily improve the world in all parts of fcience, 
 
 82. 222. 
 Experiments, the rife of medicine founded thereon according to 
 
 Cel/us,2i7. ^ , . 
 
 Extenfion not inconfiftent with cogitation, 431. 
 ExtinSiion, the eifed oi Adam's fall, 51.112. 189. 346, 347. 
 
 F. 
 
 Fable of the Bees, the author's charader, 248. the ill efFea of fuch 
 writino^s, ib, are as groundlefs, and ufelefs, as uncomfortable, 
 250. A real fyftem eftablifhed in nature upon virtue, ib, felf- 
 confiftent, and which either will fupport itfelf, or be fupported 
 by the Deity, ib. has an uniform tendency to promote univerfal 
 happincfs, ib. Vice the contrary, ib, this can only produce good 
 by accident, and being over-ruled to that end, ib. is in itfelf to 
 the body politic what poifon to the natural, ib. Natural and moral 
 qualities equally fixed, 25 1 . No fort of vice in general a real bene- 
 fit, ib. Luxury deftruaive rather than advantageous to trade, ib. 
 This author's principles in the oppofite extreme to thofe of the 
 Charaaeri flicks, 251. both wide of the true mean, which lies in 
 private happinefs purfued by virtue. 252. this ever produaiveof 
 the higheft degree of happinefs on the whole, ib. 
 
 TaSs barely related in the Gofpels without inferences from them, 
 
 274. Vid. Evangelifls^ ^ 
 
 Faculties^ 
 
I N D EX. 
 
 facidiicsy man free in the exercife of fome, 1 8. the harmony amongft 
 them, ih. 
 
 Faiths a dependance upon God , the want of this occafioncd Cain'% 
 offering to be rejedted, 52. a right one how far required in em- 
 bracing Chrifcianity, 23. a rational one neceffary in all things re- 
 lating to ir, ih. how that is confident with praying to continue 
 lledfaft in it, 23, 24. Faith in Chrift 10 come, equally meritorious 
 as that in him already come, 190. 
 
 Fall, the confequences of it on Adam, 51. 112. on the earth, 202. 
 on all mankind, ib. and 345, 6, 7, reverfed by Chrift, 189. 291. 
 547, &c. what might at firft be inferred from the tjanfaftion in 
 Edsn, 60. Animal facriiice could not be inftituted before it, 57. 
 
 Farmer (H,) his enquiry into Chriil's temptation in the wilder- 
 nefs, 76. 141. 278.425. His differtation on miracles, 133. noteC. 
 
 Fathers of the church, many of ihem being; converted from Heathen- 
 ifm, bring with them their philofophy, 159. raife allegorical 
 myfteries on plain points of Scripture, 229. not the bell interpre- 
 ters of difiicult ones, 160. 167, i68. have made as grofs miftakes 
 
 '' as others, ib, this providentially ordered, ib, did not undcrltand 
 the theory of religion ib well as fome of lefs abilities in a more 
 learned age, 160. generally lived much better than they reafoncd, 
 
 164. How far their proximity to the times of the apoftles gave 
 them advantage over others, 161. This fuppofed advantage of 
 noconfequence in things not exprefly enjoined, ib. it would be a 
 hardihip for «3 to be obliged to conform to all fuch, 162. Many 
 conilitutions of different ufe and necellity in different times, ib, 
 A liberty of changing thofe left by the founders of the ChrilHan 
 church, ib. Pifficulty of knowing the general fenfe of the church 
 in times really primitive, 168. Sacred truth to be fought only in 
 the Scriptures, ib. Nothing ever determined by appeals to any 
 other judicatory, ib. The appellants don't well underfland what 
 they- mean by that of the primitive times, ib. The Fathers often 
 inconfiitent with each other, and with themfelves,/^. Where they 
 agree, their reafon, not authority ought to govern,/^. Chriftianity 
 in its childhood when they wrote, 166. We fhould have under- 
 ilo^d the Scriptures better without them, ib. They juftify fuch 
 rites as led to popery, ib. No Chriflian church now in the world 
 holds all that they did, i». nor is it worfe for not doing fo, ib^ 
 hypocrijy to pretend that refignation to them which ufed to be in- 
 filled on, 168. neither requifite in matters of opinion nor pradlice, 
 ih, Inftances of variations from them in each refpect, ib. which 
 we have reafon to believe not unacceptable to God, ib. The real 
 reverence due to them, ib. both their learning and piety extraor- 
 dinary for the times, ib. Religion and truth more likely to fuil'er 
 by a too fupine refignation to them, than by receding from them, 
 168, Foreign ProteJlanU have no fuch high opinion of them, 164, 
 
 165. Authors who have treated them freely, ib, Le Clerc's jull 
 apology for it, ib, 
 
 Fecift, occafional difcourfe of Chrift upon ir, 311. — of Tabernacki 
 alluded to, 316. • 
 
 F£«.GU50N (Dr.) 43. 220. 
 
 Figuraiivf 
 
 I ■ N D E X. 
 
 Figurative expreflions, why ufed by our blefTed Saviour, 323. 
 
 Ftjhers, allufions to the occupation, 314. 320. 
 
 FiincJ's of the time, in each nation, for receiving a religion, what 
 conftitutes it, 29. Objedtion from the Cbinefe anfwered, ib. Fit- 
 iiefs of that in which the Chriftian was introduced. Vid. Chrifiia- 
 
 nity. 
 
 Flejhy the eating of it allowed to manMnd from the beginning, 53, 
 
 —55- 
 Flood o^ Noah did not increafe the barrennefs of the earth, 62. 202^ 
 
 nor fhorten the lives of men, 203. introduced in mercy to that 
 
 generation, as well as their poftej:ity, 62. Reflexions naturally 
 
 arifing from it, 64,65. Man's knowledge after it fuperior to 
 
 what was before, ib. 
 
 Food (animal) ufed from the beginning of the world, 53. 
 
 Freedom of man allowed to confift with all the methods of commu- 
 nicating revelation, 15, 16. what tokens of it in the human con- 
 ftitution, 10, II. its limits, ib. not entirely fuperfeded by aflbcia- 
 tions, 17, 18. the fuppofition of it the fole ground of merit, ib, 
 and of the pleafure we receive in exerciiingmoit of our faculties, j<5. 
 
 Fulncfs of the time, the fame as a flate of maturity in the world, 42. 
 129. 143 — 153. in what refpeds the time of Chrift*s appearance 
 was fuch. Vid. Chrijiianity, 
 
 Fundamentals in Chriftianity, no room for any difpute about them, 
 186. 
 
 Future Jl ate might be collefted from the tranfaftion in Paradlfe, 60, 
 the tranflation of Enoch, 61. the promife to Abraham., 68—72. 
 rot explicitly taught under the Mc/uick inftitution, which was 
 built chiefly on temporal promifes, in order to feparatethe Jeinjs 
 from other nations, and fecure them from idolatry, 90. 104, 5, 
 238. Vid. LzwoiMcjh, — neceffary to the fupport of virtue, 256. 
 
 • —has no connedliou with the natural immortality of the human 
 foul, 421 — 24. 
 
 G. 
 
 Genius, natural in man, what conftitutes it, 11. whence the diverfity 
 in it, 10. Neceflity for fuch in all fociety, ib. Whether the 
 Ancients were fuperior to the Moderns in that point. 223. 
 
 Gcfi tiles. Vid. Heathen, 
 
 Gerard (Dr.) 242. 
 
 Ghcft, Vid. Spirit and Holy, 
 
 Gifts extraordinary, improveablc by labour and ftudy, 22. fuch not 
 to be claimed now-a-days, without the fame evidence that origi- 
 nally attended them, 21. 
 
 Glajs painting, the art not loft, but out of ufe in many parts of the 
 world fince the reformation, 207. 
 
 GOD Almighty, the wifdom of his conduft in the difpenfation of 
 both natural and revealed religion, 8—14, 8—28. Whether all 
 kinds of worftilp be equally acceptable to him, 33. W^hat pro- 
 vifion he made for the inftruflion of the antediluvian world, 63. 
 his covenant with Noah, ib, with Abraham and his family, 68. 
 obliged to treat with the patriarchs by way of compa<S;>, 80. his 
 government of the J^at/, 87, &c. Jntcnt oi that Inllitution, 90. 
 
 not 
 
INDEX. 
 
 not confined wholly to them, 91. 104. Whether they eva 
 absolutely rejefted him, 94. made known by them to a great part 
 of the world, 91.95. fent his prophets to foreign countries, 10.^. 
 not partial in his favours to the Je-vL's, 105. makes them the chief 
 means of preparing mankind for a nobler difpenfation under the 
 A/<^«/S', 1 1 2, 1 1 3. introduces that in the fitted time, 113.115. (Vid. 
 Chrifiianity}) ads always for the good of all mankind, 153, 154. 
 to whom he extends the benefit of redemption, 188, 1S9. His 
 works fuited to each other, and in a ftate of progreflion, 42, 45. 
 
 219, 220. 228. 235. difgraced by our having a different notion of 
 them, 248. made dependent on an evil principle by Mande'ville, 
 249. his perfeAions in themfelves above our reach, 293. reduced 
 to our level in the perfon of Chrift, ib. and 294. the love of him 
 not taught by heathen writers, 202. —What implied in his being 
 called the God of any one, 420. his will the foundation of morali- 
 ty, 256. 
 
 Gods of the hills and valleys, 83. —of the Egyptiam openly defeated, 
 86. of the heathen in general, fuppofed to be the founders of 
 their feveral governments, 210. The inventors of arts fo termed, 
 
 220. Their worlhip merely a compound of abfurdity and immo* 
 rality, 296, 7. vid. Idolatry. 
 
 Goguety 217, 218, 
 
 Goody natural conftitutes moral, 256. 
 
 Go/pel, the hardlhip of its vindicators againft modern infidelity, 305. 
 vid. Chrijlianity , 
 
 Co/pels contain bare fafts, without deduftions from them, 274. often 
 omit circumftances, 320, 321. record things with greater fimplici- 
 ty than heathen writers, 333. 
 
 Government t the neceffity of it in human fociety, 8. implies^ diverfity 
 of ftation and abilities, ib, and 9, 10, Hence inequalities in na- 
 tural religion, 10—14. any fchemes of it founded on vice, abfurd, 
 251. 
 
 Governments y the occafion of revolutions in them, 44. Modern ones 
 better calculated for the good of the governed, 220, 244, 5. 
 
 Governors, duty to them taught and praftifed by our bleiTed Saviour, 
 
 Grace of God, neceffity for foliciting it, 24. Ufe of it confident 
 with the free application of our reafon to religious matters, ib. 
 
 Greeks maintained as grofs errors in religion as any other people, 106. 
 their arts difperfed over Afia at the downfal of Alexander* s empire, 
 176. State of philofophy amongft them when Chrift came, 118 — 
 
 124. 
 
 H 
 
 Habits, the force of them In forming appetites, &c. 11,12. admit of 
 fome degree of liberty in the ftrift lenfe, ib, (vid. Jffhciatior.s.) The 
 moral fenfe and that of honour properly fuch, 252. Ufe and ex- 
 cellence of that part of ourconftitution under proper regulations, 
 ib. Each good one a foundation of happinels in a future ftate, 
 234* They have a greater influence on our general behaviour than 
 principles, 249. yet much affedlcd by thefe, ib, often the ground 
 of morals, 254. 
 
 Hadrian 
 
 I N D EX. 
 
 Hadrian, his remarkable perfecution of the JeiMSf 1*^4. Con 
 
 qjenccs of it with refpedt to the Chrijfians, ib, 
 Hakewill cited, 197. 
 Hales (Jo.) of the caufes of fchifm, 185. 
 Hallet (Mr) cited, 210—11. refeired to, 175. 
 Happinejs confifts in agency, 17. incompatible with any fixed im- 
 mutable ftate, ib. That in another world proportioned to the fe- 
 veral degrees of holinefs here, 190. Private happincfs the ulti- 
 mate end of virtue, 255. 
 Harduin, father, his extraordinary fcheme, 172. 
 Harmony among our faculties, 19. of the Gofpels, upon what plan 
 
 to be formed, 309 — 310. 
 Hartley, 12.211.232.237. 
 //«ri;^/? alluded to, 315. 
 
 Hearts of men known by our Saviour, 330. Confequences of It in 
 his teaching and reproving, ib. Hence properly faid to anfiuer 
 when no quejlion is aficed, ib. 
 Heathens^ ancient, their circumftances at the coming of Chrift, 118. 
 240. 296, 7. in general worfe than y^^-zuj or Chrijiians, 239. 
 Their morals improved by Chriftianity, 184. — Modern, what the 
 generality of them hold, 34. the cafe of fuch as to another life, 
 lb. and 190, 191. very different from ihofe who wilfully rejeft 
 Chriftianity, ib. 
 Heaven, thatof C/^r//?/^z«/ a fupericr degree of happinefs, 190. Hea- 
 ven and hell not perhaps fo infinitely diftant as is commonly 
 fuppofed, 191. 
 Hebrews, vid. Jenxs, 
 Herejy, neceffity for its being permitted, 242. None fo bad as bc« 
 
 lieving it lawful to hate men for opinions, 262. 
 Heumannus on the intermediate ftate, 364. 
 Heylin, Th. Left. 278. 
 
 Hippocrates, phyfic as a fcience at its height of reputation un- 
 der him, 216. 
 Hijioryy that of Mo/es, confirmations of it, 208. that of the gofpel, 
 many circumftances omitted in it, 320. confequences thereof, 321. 
 That of the church, in what age capable of being moft authentic, 
 139. moft dcfedive for thirty years between Nero and Trajan, ib» 
 Sacred hiftory methodical and confiftent, prophane the contrary, 
 107. This regulated by the former till the 'Jev:ijh captivity, ib. 
 The uncertainty of ancient hiftory, 163, 4. 210. The grounds 
 of that uncertainty, ib. formerly filled with fables, 208, 9. be- 
 gun to clear up of late, ib. reduced as to the marvellous, ib. Men 
 very apt to magnify numbers for want of an exad fcrutiny, 210, 
 211. Inftance in defcents of kings, ib, 
 Holinefs, every degree of it may have a proportionable ftate of hap- 
 
 pinefs in the next life, 190, i. 
 Holy Ghojl, fome part of the Chriftian fcheme left to be opened by 
 him, 1^4. Some unknown after his defcent, 155. his extraordi* 
 nary affiftance neceffary during the firft delivery of the Gofpel, 
 158, 9. that a fign of its weak ftate, 158. his ordinary one iuf- 
 £cientfor the undcrftanding of it, 21. This confiftent with the 
 
 common 
 
INDEX. 
 
 common ufe of our faculties, ih, and not diftinguifhable from 
 
 them, ib' ill confequence of any greater influence, 16, 17. 
 Ucncur^ the fenfe of it a habit, 252. 
 Ho/pitalityy how far infilled on in the gofpel, 311, 212. the precept 
 
 of it not peculiarly Chrillian, ib* 
 Haur of Chrift, the mod probable meaning of that phrafe, 302, 3. 
 Human nature, the true plan of it, 10, 11. why fuch inec^udities 
 
 therein, ib. not fo bad as fome authors have reprcfented it, 248, 
 
 — 252. 
 Humanity, a great inftance of it in Chrifl's firll publick miracle, 
 
 301, 2. 
 Hume (Mr.) 18. 136. 201. 221. 
 Humiliation, that of our bleffed Saviour, 276, 7. the manner and 
 
 degree of it, 279. 
 Humuityy taught by Socrates, 127. \iy M.Antoninus, 184. the falfe one 
 
 of referring too much to publick wifdom, 268. the true pattern 
 
 of it fet by Chrift, 276. mixed with the greatell dignity, 298. 
 
 Jacob converfes with his Maker, 79, 80. makes a kind of ftipula- 
 tion with him, ib, then fets himfelf to drive out all flrange gods, 
 ib. his notions of the divine omniprefence, ib. and charathter of 
 his ibns; ib, a different account of his 1*0^, ib. removed into one 
 of the moil improved parts of the wonM, that he might impart 
 fomewhat of the true religion to thera, 83, 84. acquainted with 
 the future oppreflion of his family there, and their return, 85. 
 
 J A OCELOT, on the propriety of ChriU's parables, 324. 
 
 ideas, perception of them quick or flow, &c. the ground of different 
 tempers, 10, 11. 
 
 Idioms of the Hebreiu language fliould be more regarded in inter- 
 preting Scripture-phrafes than was done by our lall tranflators, 
 
 263, 4. 
 Idolatry, whether propagated in the world fo fail as the Mnfaic hiflory 
 
 reprefents, 65. a check given to it by the difperfion of mankind, 
 
 60. the attendants and effefls of it, 68. founded on fables, and 
 
 fuited to the corruption of each counrry, 296. why the JeiAJs were 
 
 fo prone to it, 94. wherein it confilled, ib. 
 Jeffery (Dr.) 46. iii. 170. 19'. i9v 291. 347- 
 Jericho, the people of it fullV acquainted w ith the m'raclcs worked 
 
 in favour of the IjrafHies, 96. and of God's intent therein, ib, 
 Jerusalem vifited by Alexa*ul:r, 97. vidlms ofi^ered there hy An- 
 
 tiocus, Seleuchus, and feveral Romofi emperors, 100, its dcilrudion 
 
 beneficial to Chriftianity, 156. 175. 
 Jesus, vid. Christ. 
 Jtfuits faid to have often confulted together about correfting St. 
 
 'pauPs epiftles, 263* their countenancing y. Harduin'*% famous 
 
 fcheme, 174. • n 7 
 
 Jews, their law not confined to themfclves, gi. admits flrangers, ib* 
 inculcates humanity to them, 9c. nor diliinguilhcd for their own 
 fakes, 92. intent of God in raifiag them up, 93 they reform the 
 religion of evft-y country into which tht^y are fent, 95. live by 
 
 their 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 their own laws under xki^Rojnans fbrfbme time, 99. not {b incair- 
 fiderable a people as is often reprefented, 100. their zeal in mak- 
 ing profelytes, ib. degenerate in the latter ages of their govern- 
 ment, 101. why foaddided to the heathen worfhip, 94. what that 
 was, ib. They were not worfe than other nations in like circum- 
 ftances, 106. in fome refpeds very fit to have the divine oracles 
 committed to them, 107. exaft in fettling their hifl:ory before the 
 great captivity, ib. remifs afterwards, ib. the means of manifefl:ing 
 the true God to mod parts of the world, 107 — 8. the morefottifh 
 of themfelves, the better that end anfwered by them, 107. their 
 (economy prepared them for communicating Chriftianity, 114. 
 their great want of reformation when Chrift came, 1 17. their cha- 
 rader and cirumftances in Chrift's time made that a fit feafon for 
 his coming, 1 40. 1 44. how far the power of life and death was 
 then taken from them, 140. Their fall a benefit to the world, 143. 
 their rejecling Chriftianity a confirmation of its truth in every 
 2i<re, ib. of what benefit they were to the reft of the world when 
 inofl diftinguiflied in their own land, 1 49. like fo much leaven in 
 the mafs of mankind, 151. removed to Babylon when in its moft 
 flourifhing ftate, ib. fpread fo far as the Eajl Indies, ib. fettled in 
 all quarters of the world, ib. by their former difperfions at and 
 after the deftruftion of their temple, fpread the knowledge of the 
 true God and his providence, 173. when they were better qualified 
 for it, and lefs liable to be corrupted, 174. have never fallen into 
 idolatry during all this laft difperfion, ib. their cafe exceedingly 
 remarkable in all Chriftian countries, ib. Men's eyes turned on 
 them by fome frefti perfecution every ctnt\xvy, ib. more numerous 
 at prefent than they have ever been in their own land, ib. their 
 remarkable treatment Mn^cv Hadrian, 175. a confequence of it 
 was the delivering the Chriftian church from its fubjedtion to the 
 law, /^. their prefent ftate foretold, 175, 6. confequences of their 
 being fo long prefervcd diftin<5l from other people, ib. they confefs 
 their crime of murdering the MefTiah in their conftant worfliip, ib. 
 they ftiall be finally rellored to the divine favour, 187. Their 
 revelations under a carnal cover, 238. yet unfolded by degrees, 
 ih. Their fenfe of the word neighbour, 318. hatred to the Samari-^ 
 tans, ib. very artfully reproved by our bleftcd Saviour, ib. 
 
 Illumination, why revelation could not be communicated to each 
 perfon by a particular one, 16 — 18. 
 
 Immortality, loft by the fall, 5 i . reftared by Chrift, 11 2. to all man- 
 kind, 189. not an inherent property of our nature, but the gil't 
 of God, ib. and 349, &c. to commence at the refurredion, 189, 
 348 350. whether believed by Cicero, 121, 12,2. and the gene- 
 rality of the Heathens, 357. Wcaknefs of the common arguments 
 
 - for it, 430. 432. ^ 
 
 Immutabilitv improperly afcribed to the law of nature, 6. 
 
 ImpoJIors (jcvjidA ground their pretcnfions on the general expe^a- 
 tion of theMefiiah,!45. the promifeof whom thereby interred,/^. 
 
 Impnjiure, the unavoidable confequence of communicating revelation 
 
 by particular infpirations, 19. The whole frame of Chriftianity 
 
 • iriconflftentWith this, 134— 5. 
 
 - Jmpzf.ui a 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Impofturet in fome ages, no reafon for fufpcftlng one in that wKertirt 
 Chriftianity was promulgcd, 137. 
 
 Improvement of the world in arts, gradual, 217 — 8. but unequal, 218. 
 efFeds of it, 219. that of our own times, 181. 220 — 22a. in edu- 
 cation, 219. government, 220. knowledge natural, 230. 231. 
 moral, 230. religious, ib. and 234. how far our pradice corref- 
 ponds thereto, 240. Improvements herein in feveral articles, 23?. 
 240. Objeaion from the fpiritof infidelity which feems to pre- 
 vail, 241. Confequences of believing that there are fuch inr- 
 provcments, or the contrary, 247—253. whether they are injuri- 
 ous to virtue, 253. 
 
 Improvements in religion, in what fenfe to be undcrftood, 262. Syn- 
 chronize with the courfe of other improvements in the world, 237. 
 more ftill wanting, 193— 4. ,, , .... 
 
 Impulfe (internal) why religion could not be communicated by it, 19. 
 
 Indians i^Eaft) had a great veneration for Abrahatfiy 71. the Jevjs 
 fpread amongll them, where their defcendents yet continue, 151. 
 (Eaft and H'eji) why Chriftianity makes no greater progrefs among 
 them, 29. 31. in what fenfe they may not yet be fully qualified 
 
 Infallibility in all the facred writers not necefTary to eflablifh the truth 
 of their writings, 266. a conftant one in all probability peculiar 
 
 to the Son of God, ib. . j • /■ r 
 
 Infancy of man, why our blefTed Saviour fubmitted to it, 276—8. of 
 the world, what provifion made for it, 48, &c. 146, &c. had fre- 
 quent revelations, 57, 58. the generality then Anthropomorpliites, 
 58. -the ftate of childhood continued much longer than at prefent, 
 219. — of Chriftianity, 154. I56,&c. the difficulties that attend- 
 
 • ^^ it^ ,3^—136. made its ie:eption impofTible, fuppofing the 
 whole to have been of man's invention, ib, which gives the ftrong- 
 eft atteftation to it when approved, ib. 
 
 Infidelity, its inexcufeablenefs, 36. confeffed unreafonablenefs, 136,7. 
 305. danger, 192. late increafe, 183. good ends to be ferved by 
 It, 241. Character of its modern promoters, 304, 5. Difficulties 
 of conteftLng with them, ib. 
 
 Innate, no appetites, afFcftions, inftinfts, fcnfes, fuch, any more than 
 notions, 10 — 12. except the original perception of pleafure and 
 pain, from whence all others are deducible, 1 1. 
 
 Innovaticnsy Ld. Bacon, on that fubjeft, 197. 
 
 Injpiration, univerfal, not the moft proper method of conveying a re- 
 iigion, 16 — iQ. how far applicable to the language, and many 
 fads of Holy Scripture, 265—8. what feveral Authors mean by 
 the word, 264. ABp. Potter's explanation of it, 265, Sec, Con- 
 fcquenceof fuppofing it, 264—6. neither necefTary nor proper, ib. 
 
 InftmSi, none pioperly implanted, 10, 1 1, whence what is fo called 
 xnay be produced, 1 1 — 13. 
 
 Inftitution {Mo/aic) confiftedin temporals, 104. why not morepcrtett, 
 ib, a proper ftate of difcipline to ihtje-ws, 108, 109. 
 
 ^ [Chriftian) the benefit of it, 35. chief condition thereof, 36. 
 
 vid. Chripanity, /• i- u 
 
 In/fituticns. lower ought to precede and pave the way for higher, 
 ^ iio 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 1 16— 115. in what refpea that of Chriftianity exceeded all for- 
 mer ones. III, 112. 
 Intelled (human) whence formed, 10. whence the diverfity in it,i i, 
 12. necelfity for fuch in fociety, 13, 14. a natural equality de- 
 ftrudlive of both rationality and agency, 14. 
 IntelleQual, mankind in general more fo now than in former ages, 
 
 247. 
 Intercommunity of worftiip, the idolatry of the JevjSy 94. 
 Intermediate ftate, the confequences of that doctrine, 437—444. 
 Interpretation of Scripture, beft rule for it, 325. whether we need 
 recur to the judgment or ufage of primitive times, 161, &c. (vid. 
 Fathers) a popular phrafe not to be taken literally, 325 6. bet- 
 ter methods begun lately, 263. 
 Invention, none of real value loft again, 206. why fome more liable 
 
 to viciflitude than others, 213. vid. Difcoveries. 
 Job, and his three friends in Arabia of regal dignity, 73. have their 
 revelations, ib, their notions of religion, ib. Date of the book 
 and nature of its compofition not very eafily fettled, 74. the no- 
 tions in it however luited to the patriarchal times, ib. the fre- 
 quent mixture of Chaldee feems to ftiew it to be no older than the 
 captivity, ib, Le Clerc's obfcrvations on that head, ib, whether 
 the author fpeaks of a refurredion, 75. 
 John, the Baptift, his teftimony the lefs fufpicious on account of 
 there being no perfonal acquaintance between him and Chrift, 
 302. twice imprifoned, according to Lamy, 309, 310. 
 John, the Evangelift, where fome fuppofe his Gofpel might be 
 originally concluded, 273. higher manifeftations made to him 
 than to the other EvangeUfts, ib, 
 yonftonus, 201. 
 JoRTiw (Dr.) cited 77. 194. 320, referred to, 32. 146. 173. 176. 
 
 182. 184. 187. 306. 348. 
 Joseph foreiels the return of the i/r^^///^/ £vcm Egypt, 85. 
 JsAAC, revelations made to him, 73. extraordinary blefTmgs con- 
 ferred on him, 79. contemporary with y^^, according to ibme, 74, 
 JsRAELiTEs, circumftanccs of their removal into Egypt, 83, 84. 
 caufcs of their oppreffion there, ib, necefiity for it, ib. their deli- 
 verance foretold and conduced in a way moft beneficial to them- 
 felves and the reft of the world, 85. their difcipline in the wilder- 
 nefs, 86, 87, diftinguifhed by miracles among the neighbouring 
 nations,/^, nature and defign of their law, 87, 88. why not more 
 perfedl, ib. and 89. extended to ftrangers among them, 90. why 
 and on what condition they were forbid commerce with the feven 
 nation?, 91. Anfwer to the infidePs obje£lions on that head, 87. 
 95, They are not diftinguifhed for their own fakes, 92. 95 but 
 for the benefit of other nations, 92, and made examples to others 
 throughout their hiftory, 92—96. who are acquainted with the 
 divine difpenfations towards them, 97. efpecially when they them- 
 felves are made the inftruments, ib, cured of their capital vice in 
 x\\e Babylonijh captivity, 94. improve others as well as partake of 
 their corruptions, 95. by the various revolutions in their govern- 
 ment, &c. fpread the knowledge of their hiftory and religion in 
 
 G g the 
 
index: 
 
 . Ae world, 97, 98. Inftances down from their firft captivity to 
 that under t\\e Romans, 07 — 103- H9- ^id- Jiws. 
 
 Ju^ai/m, mixed with Chriftianity for lome time, 1 56, 7- 
 
 luDEA, when in its moft flourilhing date, 149. Of what ufe then to 
 the reft of the world, 150. - under the Piolemys, 98. --under the 
 Romans, 99, 1 00. 1 30. 1 39. the midft of the nations, and the fitted 
 place from whence to communicate religion to them, 105. from 
 thence in faft mankind derived moft of their knowledge, both 
 civil and religious, 211, 212. • i* • /:/: 
 
 TuLiAN expofes the degeneracy of fomc Chripans in his time, Vbb* 
 yet acknowledges the Chrifiian morals to be preferable to the hca- 
 then philofophy, ib. 
 
 Jupiters, how many among the heathen, 124, 
 
 K. ^ 
 
 King (Mr.) on the £«f///^ conftitution, 221, 242. 
 
 KnonvUzi. in acquiring it, aaion is often implied, 17, 18. whence 
 th^ chief pleafure attending it, ib. in what ftate that of the firft 
 ages was, 224. fufficient for the purpofes of the world at that time, 
 it and 225, 6. increafes gradually in the world, \^—^t, 23i,&c. 
 257. Whether that of religion keeps the fame rule, 46. 234-9- 
 
 Kno'-wiedze, Tree of, what it meant, 49, 50. 
 
 Knoijulefge of true religion has a confiderable tendency to promote 
 the practice, 239. vid. Sciences* 
 
 Koran, vid. Mahometans, 
 
 I/i^car,neceflity for it after the fall, 202. ../;^^ 
 
 Lacedemonians, retain the memory of ^^r^^/7« above 1600 
 
 years, 7 1 . claim kindred with the Je^s under the Maccabees, tb. 
 Lamech, contemporary both with Jdam and Noah, 6z, what his 
 
 prophecy imported, ib. 
 Lamy, his Harmony cited, 303. 309, 3 'o. 31.4- 3!7- . , 
 
 Language, the Ancients chiefly excel m polilhing it, 223. their ad- 
 vantage over the Moderns in that refpeft, tb. ^ ^ . ., 
 Languages, the caufes of their multiplication, 66. ncceffity for it, ib* 
 
 fpread from one center, 211, 212. 
 Lardner (Dr.) 29. 130. t^^i , 
 
 Larw of AMj,both the moral and ceremonial parts thereof exquifitcly 
 adapted to the ftate of the Ifraelites, 89, 90. why not more pertett, 
 104.. 2^8. ufes of feveral rites in it, 9f . A fchool-mafter to teach 
 them the rudiments of religion, 108. given with pomp^and terror, 
 no. ceafed upon the coming of Chrift, 1 19. general end it an- 
 
 I/,Tuo7«^/ir^ whence it arifes, 6. in what fenfe perfeft, 7. neither 
 immutable nor univerfal. ib. but varies as every particular maa 
 varies from others, and from himfelf at different times, tb. 
 
 La^-forms, multiplying of words in them of bad confequence, 326. 
 
 LaJ^gi-vers, heathen, derived moft of their beft inftitutions originally 
 
 from the 7^wJ> 126. 
 LAYTON,hisTraas, 189. . 
 
 Lazinefs the caufe of our great refignauon to antiquity, 2;,9. 
 
 "^ Learning 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Learning [Jenuifi) at the height in Chrift's time, 1 19, the fame cafe 
 
 with the Gentiles, 125 — 9. the late improvements in all branches 
 
 of it, 181. 218—24. 230. never fo equally difperfed here as aC 
 
 prefent, 182. 
 
 Le Clerc (Jo.) 10.7$. 86. 117. 125. 141, 164,5. 182, 194. 203. 
 
 223. 264. 274. 313. 335. 337.407. 
 Le Clerc (D.) 232. 
 Leland (Dr.) 67. 79. 100. 306. 
 
 Leper, why fent to the priefts when cured by Chrift, 2S0. 
 Leprofy, ceafed in a great meafure fince the difperiion of the JeijoSf 
 232. 
 
 LeJ/on for the day, alluded to by Chrift in his difcourfes at the fyna- 
 gogue, 309,310. 
 
 Letters difcovered firft to Mofes by divine revelation, 147, 8. 150. 
 feafonablenefs of that difcovery with relation to the Ifraelites, ib, 
 to the world in general, 227. 
 
 Liberality, the proper notion of it vindicated againft Chubb, 311,312. 
 
 Liberty (natural) what traces of it in the human conftitution, 11 — 13. 
 its limits, ib, not wholly fuperfeded by aJfociations,\'],\%. the fup- 
 pofition of it the fole ground of merit, ib, and of our pleafure in 
 cxercifing our faculties, ib. allowed to confift with all methods of 
 communicating a revelation, 1 5, 16. The caufe why a perfedl uni- 
 formity cannot be obfervedin the progrefs of religious knowledge, 
 236, &c. 
 
 Liberty, civil and religious, the benefits thereof, 244. includes every 
 thing valuable in life, 259—261. has increafed of late, efpecially 
 in our own country, 221. 245. 260, 261. 
 
 Life, often the fame as foul of man in Scripture, 376. placed in 
 the blood, or breath, 379. Cafe of fuch as are brought to life 
 again, 431. 
 
 Life of Chrift, the excellence and ufefulnefs thereof in fome parti- 
 culars.— Private, 278. 280. in the choice of his difciples, 282 — 8. 
 — Publick, 298. Social duties, 306. Manner of teaching, 309. 
 of difcourfing, 329. vid. Christ. 
 
 Life o( Socrates, \Ccoper*s) inconfiftencies in i^, 121. 33 J. 338. 
 
 Life of mankind, why it Ihould be longer in the infancy of the world, 
 202. when ftiortened, 203. and why, 68. 204. of much the fame 
 length now, as in the time oi Mofes, ib, vid. Longevity. 
 
 Life immortal, whence derived, 189. 349. vid. Immortality. 
 
 LiGHTpooT, 117, 118. 145. 322. 
 
 Literal fenfe, how far to be followed in the interpretation of Scrip- 
 ture, 326. No hiftorical books will always bear it, 305. 
 
 Liturgy, what is wanting previoufly to any alterations in it, 243. 
 
 Locke, on Commentators, 32^. 
 
 Longevity, of mankind, in the firft ages, a great help to keep and 
 convey religion, 147. neceffary for peopling the world and learn- 
 ing arts, 204. difficult to affign the natural caufes of it, and the 
 fubfequent change, ib. Alteration of the world at the deluge in- 
 fufficient for that purpofe, 204. The fliortening men's live^ gra- 
 dual as occafion required, ib necefficy for it, ib. and 6^, half 
 taken away at divert times till the age of Mifes, 204. where the 
 
 G g 2 term 
 
INDEX. 
 
 •* term was fixed in general as it now continues, t'B. No farther da- 
 cline in the conftitution of man, earth, or heavens, i6, in what 
 fenfe we may be faid to outlive the ancients, 219. 
 
 LoTje of God, not taught by heathen writers, 292, 4. The funda- 
 mental principle of the Ghriflian religion, 292. 294. 
 
 LOWMAN, 89. 93. 
 
 LOWTH (Mr.) 156. 161. 301. 324. r . It . 
 
 Luxury, one of the reigning vices of the prefent age, crpecially m 
 this country, 245. yet not worfe than the reigning ones of former 
 times, Of, not of advantage to trade, 251. 
 
 M. 
 
 Maccabees, under the perfecution in their time, the law and th« 
 prophets were better underftood and more regarded, 125. 
 
 Macknight, his Harmony, 274, 5. 
 
 Magick, the Egyptian pradice of phyfick built thereon, 216, 217. the 
 notions of it among the heathen a chief caufe of their not regard- 
 ing the Chriftian miracles, 131. 
 
 Magnet, the ufe of that difcovery, 181. 
 
 Mahomet, what gave him room to advance his fyftem, 172, not- 
 withftanding the impofture, it was in the main a reformation, ih, 
 contains a deal of Chriftianity, ib, inforces feveral virtues, and 
 prohibits feme vices in the ftrongefl manner, tb, binds its votaries 
 to the ilriaeft order and devotion, ib, his miftake of the Virgin 
 Mary for the third perfon in the Trinity, ib, to what heiglit Romijh 
 corruptions and confufions were come in his time, ib. which fitted 
 it for fuch a yoke, 229. 
 
 Mahometans, feveral feftsof them believe in ChriH, 172. entertamas 
 worthy notions of him as fome papifts, ib. explain away the grofs 
 things in their Koran, 229. vid. Mahomet, 
 
 M A I M o N I D E s , his opinion that the angel's appearing to Balaam was 
 
 in vifion, 77. 
 Mun, may be faid to grow more intellcdlual now than in former 
 
 ages, 247. not fo vile as fome authors reprefent, 249. his ao;e, vid. 
 
 Life, or Longevity, his faculties, vid. Faculties, Free-will, vid. 
 
 Freedom, his nature, vid. Human, 
 Mandeville, his charafter, 248, 9. ill efFefts of his writings, ib. 
 
 his principles falfe, ib. vid. Fabk of the Bees, 
 Manfions in heaven, what underftood by them, 190. 
 iV/^rr%^, difTolvable for other caufes befides fornication or adultery, 
 
 329. 
 
 Marriage in Cana, the propriety of ChrilVs miracle wrought there, 
 301. no excefs occafioned by it, 302. of what ufe it might have 
 been to his countrymen and kinsfolk, 304. their flighting it of be- 
 nefit to the reft of the world, by clearing the whole from all ap- 
 pearance of compu6l between him and them, ib, 
 
 Mar-uellous in hiflory, reduced of late by more accurate enquiries, 
 21Q. vid Hijiory. 
 
 ■ The truth of it in general fufpicious, 137. this no object 
 
 tion to the evidence for ChriHiaaity, ib, 
 
 Mary, \id, Firgin, 
 
 Matter, 
 
 I N D E X. 
 
 Matter, arguments drawn from it for the naturalimmortalijy of the 
 foul, all very weak, 430. 
 
 Maturity, of the world, what conftituted it, 129. 153, &c. Chrill 
 came then, as being the moll proper feafon, ib, 
 
 ■ of man, why our Saviour did not make his appearance at that 
 
 age, 276, 7. it would neither have been for the advantage of that, 
 nor of future generations, 277. fuch an abafement as that of in- 
 fancy, no imputation either on his purity or perfe<Sl wifdom, ib, 
 
 Maximus (Tyrius) 336. 
 
 Meats and drinks, our Saviour's allufion to them, 312. general doc- 
 trine from them, 327. 
 
 Mediator, what implied in his ofiice, 286, 7. why compared to fe- 
 veral things under iheje-wijh difpenfation, 283. moil frequently 
 to that of a propitiatory facrifice, ib, how far the death of Chrifl 
 may be deemed fuch, ib, Neceflity for one real all-fufficient Me- 
 diator in oppolition to many pretended ones among the heathen, 
 
 "297. 
 
 Medicine, founded upon experiments, 217. confequently low among 
 the ancients, ib, its ftate m Egypt and other countries about 
 the time of Mofes, 216. its pradice'depended on magical and aflro- 
 logical grounds, ib, its rules oft fettled by law, ib. Surgery the 
 oldefl branch of it, /^. made but very flow advances till the time 
 of Hippocrates, ib, how fimple its beginnings, from the tradition 
 uhoutj^fculapius, 217. The notion of a god of phyfic demon- 
 flrates its low flate, ib, improves in general, 231. though not 
 defigned to keep the fame pace in improving with other arts, ib, 
 which would often prove of very ill confequence to the world, ib. 
 
 Me l c h I s e d EC k , acquainted with the blefTing promifed to Abraham^ 
 and receives homage from him, 73. probably no other than the 
 patriarch Shem^ ibj. 
 
 Merit, the idea founded on a fuppofition of freedom, 17, 18. agree- 
 ablenefe and ufe thereof, ib, 
 
 MeJJiah, the nature of his kingdom, 1 10. different from what thej^w/ 
 expeded, ib. 140. 279. general expeiflation of him, on what found- 
 ed, 145. whether in itfelf a circumflanceof ufe to fhew the credi- 
 bility of his mifTion, ib, what would have been the confequence 
 of his coming a Mejftah in the Je^ip fenfe, 290, i. his death de- 
 fcribcd in Ffal xxii, 175. why he hindered his being proclaimed 
 the Mefftah, 141. yet did not difclaim the Mejftahjhip, 142. on the 
 contrary, his perfifting in that claim was the immediate occafion 
 of his death, 281. why he did not at firll appeal to either the 
 Je^iviJhoY Roman governors, 142. 
 
 Michaelis, Introd. to the N. T. 312. 
 
 Middleton (Dr.) 100. 
 
 Mind, (human) the general conftitution and bent of it founded on 
 fome early habit, 10. 1 1. 
 
 Miracles, not to be repeated in every age, 21—25. their ceafmg for 
 fome time among the Jews, raifed a greater attention to tliem 
 when reftored, 133,4. Inftance in the pool of Bethejda, ib. Ne=- 
 cefTity for their being copne^^ed with a fuitable fet of dodlrines^- 
 297, 8. thofe of Chriit hereby diftinguiftiable from the pretended 
 
 G g 3 ones 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ones among the heathen, ih. his no lefs figns of mercy and good* 
 ncfs than of power, 301. ufe and intention of them, 279, 280 
 fuited his character, 306. efFeft of the Chrillian miracles upon 
 the world, 131, 2.' why no greater, ib, fabulous ones afford no juft 
 objcdion to the true, 132. yet very apt to prejudice the world 
 againft them, ib, therefore ought to be carefully diftinguiihed 
 from them, ib. Propriety of the proof in general, ib. None 
 worked by evil beings, 133. 
 
 Moderns^ the advantage they have above the ancients, 218, 219. vid. 
 Improvements , 
 
 Modcftyy falfe one (hewn in a blind refignation to antiquity, 259. 
 
 Modus^ of the union of different natures in Chrift, difputes about it, 
 219. ill confequence of them, ib. 
 
 Monkery, as much excelled in true rational piety iince the reforma- 
 tion, as Chriftianity excelled ancient paganifm, 240. 
 
 MoNTEsquiEU, 221. hisfentimentsofthe£//g'///^conftitu»tion, 260. 
 
 Mi7r«/ precept, to be preferred to a pofitive, 329. Moral fcnfe whence 
 formed, 252, 
 
 Morality J the true theory of it, 2 ^1^6, whether impaired by mo- 
 dern improvements, ib, whether it daily degenerates, ib. 
 
 Morals of the world not always improved in the fame proportion with 
 its knowledge, 128. 236. a reafon of it, ib, why thought to* be 
 always on the decline, 244. no degeneracy produced in them by 
 the improvements of life, 353. Thofe of the heathen writers 
 improved by Chriftianity, 1 84. thefe of the prefent age not worfc 
 than thofe before, 244. better in fome refpeds, 246. 
 
 Morgan, 87,96. 155. 
 
 Mortality J defcehded ivomAdam, 189. revcrfed by Chrift, 348 — 50. 
 why it ftill continues, ib. and 3^0, i. 356. 
 
 MosEs. vid. LciiM of Mqfis. — Whether he was tranflated, 419. 
 
 MosHEM, on the Fathers, 164.. on the corruptions of Chriftianity 
 under Conftantine, 169. on the afFe<Slation of antiquity, 210. 
 
 Motiijcs have a real phyfical effed on the mind, notwithftanding all 
 its freedom, 12. 
 
 Mount, vid. Sermon. 
 
 N. 
 
 Nathanael, our Saviour's difcourfe with him, 329. 
 
 Natural appetite, the meaning of thofe words, 10. whether any in- 
 nate, ib. whence formed, /^. — Natural religion, why not equab!e, 
 6,^. 12. immutable, 5. univerfal, 6, 7. 14. \ id. Rtligion. natural 
 good conftitutes moral, 256. 
 
 Nature (human) tlie true plan of it briefly propofed, 10. 13, why 
 fuch inequalities therein, ib, 
 
 Ni'vigation manifeftly improved by the Moderns, 181. 
 
 N^edham de Infcriptione jEgyptiaca, 215. 
 
 Necromancy t the ground of that abfurd fuperftition, 407. 
 
 Neighbour, thcje'wijh limitation of that word, 318. well expofed by 
 our bleffed Saviour, ib. 
 
 Nichols (Dr.) cited, 207. 324. ' 
 
 Nineveh acquainted with the diVlne will before the preaching of 
 Jonah, 102. its final defolation foretold hy Nuhum, 103. 
 
 NOAilj 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Noah, the eighth prophet, 62, 63. God's covenant with mankind 
 by him, 64: what he might learn from the tranfaaion m hi^ time, 
 //, his flood, vid. Fh>od. Planted the firft vineyard, 207, 8. why 
 that is taken notice of by Mo/es, 208. what knowledge he and his 
 
 fons could have of arts, 209. . ^ , « ^ j«« 
 
 i\r.»«e. of the world, what may be called fuch, 58--63, 104. under 
 
 the particular infpeaion of the Deity, ib. vid. Infancy, 
 ^'umbers generally magnified for want of an exad Icrutiny, 210. 
 
 O. , 
 
 Oaths our bleffed Saviour's doftrine in relation to them, 328. 
 K;;T?rof S, oppofed to^^^^^'s difobedience, .82. 348. why 
 ^tS^^^^^^ on the laft ad of it, 283. his death not merely 
 
 hifmanner of teaching from the occafion tha? prefented itfelf. 
 
 309, &c. 
 Occafional Papers, 163. 
 
 0/^«f^. the ereat one in all ages, Vfb, 1 . • . .• 
 
 o|S'. vafious kinds of theS. in the firft ages 50. th«r ,n e«.o s 
 ib. moft probably appointed originally by God, «^. Uiltmtaon 
 ^tvJSen t^ofe of Mand Cain, 5 .. never made of what was of no 
 ufe to the offerer. 54- kept up a proper iniercourfe between God 
 and man, 58. Objeftions to this way of worftiip anfwered. $0.&c. 
 
 vid. Sacrifice, 
 g;;^^;rtXi?or?^^«rfa;iour far from either praaifmg or en- 
 
 O.X n'riuaefand defpifed about the time of pur Saviour's com- 
 Tng!' 123. Thofe of the 5/4^/.. whence formed, and of what fer- 
 
 OriTeveltdon, AJam taught by it rather than infpiration. 48. 
 Oral tradition, how much inferior to a written revelation, 25. 
 Oriroi time, in the Gofpels, neglefted by St. Mark and St. Luke, 
 
 oX'/among men, different ones neccffary <<>' <oj»«y' ^' 9- 
 OrJ^W?in,^the rife of that doftrine in it» grpffeft fenfe, 440. 
 Owen (Dr.) 63. 85. 106. 
 
 p 
 
 i'^.^aw, always worfe in general than eitherj^/or an>-«w, 240- 
 i than 4'/' now-a-days. .79- their circumftances whenChr.ft 
 
 came. 296. '>;"'r"lU''mid2'ofl/worid''; 10;. mankind 
 Paljestine, placed in the miadle or cnc wunu, ^^^ 
 
 m*re or lefs wltivated as nearer it, or farther removed from it. 
 
 P/zA^r. the preat ufe of its invention, loi. 
 
 >|^;. neifher fo croel. illiterate, nor immoral, as heretofore. 229. 
 
 , vid. Fopery, ^ . . • q 
 
 iP/j^rwj, the invention of writing on It, 9». .1 r ^^ 
 
 ?S;, Bfe and excellence of feaching by them, 3*3- ttofe mad, 
 
 Gg4. "•* 
 
1 N D E X. 
 
 ufe of by Chrift, their great propriety and decorum, 325. free 
 from the abfurdities with which thofe in the Talmud and the Alcoran 
 abound, ib. yet fometimes built on the inconfiftcut notions of the 
 vulgar, 419. 
 
 Paradi/e, what underflood by that word, 422. 
 
 Partial communication of Chriftianity, the fame in fa6l as that of na- 
 tural Religion, 7. Authors upon the fubjedl, 8. Reafons for the 
 latter, 9 — 15. for the former, 15—28. 
 
 Partiality, none in God with refped to iYitJeivsy 105. 
 
 Pascal, 144. 
 
 PaJJtons, in what originally founded, 10—13. touched in the moft 
 fenfible manner by the charafter of our blefled Saviour, 295. Re- 
 ligion in the generality takes the ftrongeft hold by them, ib, 
 
 Pa£o<very the rites of it alluded to by Chrift, 315, 
 
 Ptf/n^rfW religion what, 80, 1. vid. Religion, The law added to it 
 on its decay, 108. 
 
 Pattern, that fet by our blefled Saviour, 307. ufe and excellence of 
 it, ib, 
 
 Paul (St.) had a more extenfive view of the Chriilian fcheme than 
 
 the other apollles, 155. propriety of deferring his call, 287. 
 * Forfome time perhaps uncertain as to feme points, 156, 7. 
 
 taught that each perfon's death is in refpeftofhimfelf contiguous 
 to that of his refurredlion, ib, forced to conceal his preaching to 
 the Gentiles for fome years, 157. i:\itjefuits faid to have held fre^ 
 quent confultations about correfting ihis epiflles, 263. 
 
 Peace, univcrfal, how far fuch at the coming of Chrift, 144, 5. no 
 circumftance to confirm the credibility of his miflion, 145. 
 
 Peopling the world, the longevity of the ancients neceifary for it, 
 202. proof of its being fo late 2isMo/es fets forth, 207 — 11. why 
 its progrefs no greater, 209. begun with a few, and fpread from 
 one center, 211. 
 
 Perception of ideas, quick or flow, dull or acute, with a proportion- 
 able refle6lion on them, the original ground of different tempers, 
 &c. 9. 13. this only innate, as feeming to depend on the original 
 ftamina of the body, ib, 
 
 Perfea, in wjiat fenfe the law of nature fo termed, 6, 7. 
 
 Persians efteem Abraham the reformer of their religion, 7 1 . by his 
 means kept clear of the moft grofs idolatry, ib, 
 
 Peter (St.) A probable reafon^for his being frequently rebuked, 
 302. what he meant by the ^y^vo>jTa in St. Paul's writings, 156. 
 
 Peters (Mr.) cited, 61. referred to, 56. 175. remarked on, 74. his 
 hard opinion of the future ft ate of Gentiles, Pre/. 
 
 Pbarifees, perverfe difputers, 131. felf-fufiicient, 299. fpiritually 
 blind, 310. : 
 
 Philojophers (heathen) feldom made any converts, 10 1. conformed to 
 the cftabliflied idolatry, ib, generally argue not from topics of 
 ^eafon, but tradition, 120—29. fupjpofed to be Atheifts, 123. got 
 moft of their beft notions by travelling into the eaft, 126. refined 
 their fentiments after the promulgation of Chriftianity, 1 84. 
 
 Pbilofophy, natural and moral, improved by the fame means, 232. its 
 ufe among the heathen, 1 20. 1 27. 1 29. at beft gave juft light enough 
 
 to 
 
 I N D E X. 
 
 to difcover its errors, and direft them to fome better guide, 120. 
 the Epicurean feft made all the knowledge and worlhip of thc 
 deities infignificant, 124. all feds confpire in oppofition to 
 Chriftianity, 131.137. when mixed with it, produce herefies, 159. 
 229. In what refpedl Stoicks not to be imitated by us, 240. 
 Phrafe, a. popular one, never to be taken literally, 326. 
 
 Phyfick, vid. Medicine, 
 
 I'iL KINGTON (Mr.) his iJf;?wrij, 321. * 
 
 Planets (feven) the obfervation of them not the origin of weeks, 
 which were more early, 53. 
 
 Plato appeals conftantly to tradition and fome ancient records, for 
 his notions of a future ftate, 120, 121. probably received them 
 from the Egyptians, ib, what reafon to fuppofe he borrowed from 
 the Hebrews, ib, fuppofed to have put many indecent expreflions 
 into the mouth of 6'ofrfl/^/, 336. 
 
 Vh\iir,jun. his notion of true liberality, 311. the fame prefcribcd 
 by Chrift, ib. 
 
 PococKE (Bp,) on alphabetical writing, 148. 
 
 Pool oi Bethefda, defign of the miracles there, 134. 
 
 Popery, a mixture of civil policy and prieftcraft, 94. occafioned by 
 the corruptions confequent on the Roman empire being Chriftian, 
 169, 170, 1. to what height thefe were grown in Mahomet's time, 
 172. fome of the fathers led the way to it, 167, 8. the chief ground 
 thereof, 229. a deal of it yet in many churches, 184. 242, 243, 
 though abating, 240, 1. produced a great light at the refor- 
 mation, 178. how affedled thereby itfelf, /^. the my ftery of its ini- 
 quity now feen through by many of its profeflbrs, 179. who en- 
 deavour to explain away fome of its more grofs errors, 229.^ have 
 not the fame perfecuting fpirit as heretofore, ib. neither fo illite- 
 rate nor immoral as before the reformation, ib, in fome things we 
 might profit by them, ib, fome great end to be ferved by fufFering 
 it to continue fo long, 179. ftill better than paganifm, ib, and 
 
 • may be an introduftion to the cure thereof, ib, Popifli converts 
 abroad like Profelytes of the gate among the Jeius, ib. 
 
 Popular fenfe to be chiefly fought for in the Bible, 326. 
 
 Populous, whether ancient nations more fo than the prefent, 212, 13. 
 
 Po/ls inftituted among the Romans in the reign of Jugujlus, 130. ufed 
 on fome occafions before, among the Per/tans, ib. 
 
 Potter (ABp.) his defence of the infpiration of direSiion in the 
 Scriptures, 265, 6. perhaps means no more than the ordinary 
 fuperintendency of Providence, ib, 
 
 Pov.rr, how much the Jeius had under the Romans in Chrift's time, 
 139, 140. whether that of life and death was then allowed 
 
 them, ib, , . r 
 
 Prayer, — for ftedfaftnefs in the faith, confiftent with a free exami- 
 nation of it, 23, 24. the wifeft of the Heathens ignorant about it, 
 114. a means of reftoring the communication between God and 
 us, 291. 
 Preexijlence of ChM, 87. 276. 
 Prejudices of mankind, oppoflte to the Gofpcl at its firft promulga- 
 
 J Priestl^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Priestlv (Dr.) on Government, 44. 194. 257. 
 jPr/>«/>/i;<r religion,— more plain and Ample than that in after-times, 
 64. Primitive Chriftians, how far they had the advantage of all 
 others in the Theory of Religion, 160. 162. 
 
 ■Writers, whether preferable to their fucceflbrs, 161^2, &9. 
 in what to be imitated, 168. 258, 9. 
 
 •Times, what to be underftood by them, 163, 4. difficulty 
 
 of knowing them, iB, and 167, 8. never any thing determined by 
 
 appealing to them, ib. vid. Fathers, 
 Principle of Virtue, which is the proper one, 254, 5, &c. 
 Prinaphsf what influence they have on men's behaviour, 249. 
 Printings the feafonablenefs of that difcovery at the reformation, 
 
 147, 8. 181. 
 Progrefs of knowledge, a general one throughout the world, 42— 8. 
 
 234—9. but flow, 209. its limitations, ib, neceflary to complete 
 
 the fum total of happinefs, 44. objedions obviated, 42, &c. vid. 
 
 Impro'uements, 
 Promulgaticn of Chriilianity, at a feafbn proper for the confirmation 
 
 of its truth, 137. oppofed to all the paflions and the prejudices of 
 
 men, 135. 
 Propagation of the Gofpel could not be carried on otherwife than it 
 
 is, 27. Prepoflerous methods of attempting it, 28. Letts to it, 31. 
 
 prefent opportunity of advancing it in Anurica^ ib, vid. Chrifiianity. 
 Prophecies of the JV-mv Tejiament^ one intrinfic mark of their truth. 
 
 Prophecy^ fuppofed to be hereditary in the heads of feveral families 
 before the deluge, 63. not confined to the family of Abraham , 72, 
 73. when it ceafed among the Jenvs^ and why, 131,2, 
 
 Prophets, why fo often fent to the 7^w/, no. their office, 149. their 
 writings more read and regarded after the BabyUniJh captivity, 1 26J 
 Je^ijh fent to foreign countries, 102. which were highly interefted 
 in their prophecies, 103. and therefore attended to them, ib. 
 
 . fought and honoured by many of the greatefl princes, ib. Prophe- 
 tic parts of Scripture daily better underftood, 181. 
 
 ProJ'elytes made by the Je<ws to their law, 100. to the belief and 
 worftiip of the true God, ib, the apoftolical determination of ab- 
 ilaining from blood, &c. probably related to fuch converts only, 
 157,8. 
 
 Providencey never more enlarged notions of it than at prefent, 182, 
 the more we trace it, the mo e we fee of its defigns, and have rea- 
 fon to think the profped will be ftill enlarging, 232,3. right no- 
 tions of it inflilled by our Saviour, 310. 
 
 Prussia (King of) on the progrefs of the underftanding in Arts 
 and Sciences, 44. 
 
 > On Modern Governments, 221. 
 
 P/almSi feveral of them defcribe the crucifixion of our Lord, 175. 
 321. thefe publickly read by the Jeivs ftill, to their condemna- 
 tion, 175. Chrift's appeal to the book ofP/almszs treating of him, 
 juftified, 176. Hence a ftrong argument for their convidion, /^l 
 
 Ptolemy carries above a hundred thoufand Jews into Egypt, 97. 
 plants others in Cjre/ie and Ljbia, ib, his fon Philadclphus procures 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 a tranflation of their law, ib, his fuccelTor Euergeits worftiips the 
 God of Ifrael, 98. Philometor had a comment on the Pentateuch, 
 ib, permits Onias to build a temple in his kingdom, ib. which 
 continued for above three hundred and forty years, ib. 
 
 Purchafe, in what fenfe ufed in Scripture, 282. applied to the me- 
 rits of Chrift in our redemption, ib. 
 
 Purgatory, whence that dodrine arofe, 229. 
 
 Pyle (Mr.) cited, 94. 
 
 Qualifications of mankind to receive inftruaion natural and moral, 
 128, 9. thefe do not always accompany each other, zb, though 
 both requifite, ib, this is not faying that wickednefs and wifdom 
 may unite, ib. Thofe of the age in which Chnft came, 130. ^ 
 
 Qualities, moral and natural, equally fixed, 250. though by a mix- 
 ture of good and bad, their tendency not always immediately dif- 
 coverable, ib, two bad ones in a ftruggle may fometimes relieve 
 inftead of ruining a conftitution, 251. this alters not their general 
 nature, ib. if fo great a mixture of bad ones as fome fuppofe, the 
 world would not go on fo well as now it does, ib, feemingly op- 
 pofite ones in our bleffed Saviour's charader, whence, 306. 
 
 Rabshakeh, declares that he has a Divine commiffion, 96. 
 
 miftakes the cafe of Hezekiah, ib. . ot. -aj 
 
 Ran/om, the various fenfes of that word m Scripture, ^83, 4. Chnit s 
 
 death fuch in a certain fenfe, ib. 
 Ray (Mr.) on the ancients and moderns, 223. . ^ , 
 
 Rea/on) the portion of it in each perfon whence formed, 6. to be ex. 
 
 ercifed in Religion, 20. fufficient for that purpofe, 21. Objedions 
 
 anfwered, ib, , ^ . , . . ^ 
 
 Redeemer, intimated to Adam, 59. to Abraham, 6g. what notions the 
 ancients had of him, 225. thefe fufficient for the times, /^. what 
 implied in his office. 282, 3. not merely figurative, ib, from what 
 he redeemed us, 189. 361, &c, . t r r 4 
 
 Redemption of Chrift, what included in it, 281. in what fenfe under, 
 ftood, ib, falfe notions of it, ib. wherein chiefly paced, tb. im. 
 plies fomething vicarious, 286, 7, the fcheme of it laid before the 
 world began, 189. vid. Chrift. . ^, e ' . ' t - 
 
 Reformation,^ religion, impoffible upon the fcheme of private mfpi- 
 ration or perpetual miracles, 15-26. whether any neceflary m 
 our eftablifliment, 242, 3. preparatives thereto, /^. 
 
 Reformation of the Romijh church, the efFeas it had on the world, 
 ,79. on that church itfelf. tb, and 229. the feafonablenefs of 
 printing, and the ufe of the compafs at that time, ' ^ « • J^Y^^^^J, ?f 
 letters and all parts of fcience at the fame time, 230. \>hether thi$ 
 was fatal to Chriftianity, 247. . , -, , r»««^r 
 
 Relations of Chrift, why no more notice taken of them, 304. ^Ppo^- 
 tunity they had of fully examining his pretenfions, ib. Uies ot 
 
 their rejecting him, ib, , ., • *.ki«. 
 
 Relizion, why not univerfal, c. 7. 15. nor equal, /A. nor immutable, 
 il communicated gradually, 26, 27 . propagated by human means. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ih, reafon tobe exercifed thereon, 20-23, Sufficient for that end, 
 /^.Primitive more fimple than that in after-times, 64. 147. l)e! 
 fcription of it, 224. 226. Diverfities in it unavoidable, 33. yet 
 not all kinds equally acceptable, ib, the feveral difpenfations of 
 it fuited to the circumftances of mankind, 81,2. 147. its progrefs 
 the fame as that of arts and fciences, 166, 7. 187. — defcription 
 of it in general, 224. of the Chriftian in particular, 1 11. 291, 2I 
 that not merely a republication of natural religion, 228. carries 
 on and completes all its beft motives, 233, 4. 
 
 Repentance, the great condition of the hew covenant, 36. fymboli- 
 cally reprefented of old by facrifice, 50. a new doaHne, according 
 to the ftrefs laid on it in the Chriftian inflitution, 291. 
 
 Refioration of the Jetusy 171. 179. 187, 
 
 Refurreaion, whether taught injohy 74, 5. the chief ftrefs laid on It 
 in the Neiv Tejiament, 189. the purchafe of Chrift's death, &c. 
 282. 349. Commencement of our new life, 348. 396. — difbeliev- 
 cd by many of the heathen, 357, 358. The grand objed of our 
 faith, hope, and comfort, 406. 
 
 Retrogi-adation, no confiderable one in the divine difpenfations, 43. 
 187. increafe of wickednefs among wicked men does not prove 
 It, 238. ^ 
 
 Revelation, reafon ablenefs of Aippofing one, 15. Objeaions to the 
 prefent method of conveying it anlVered, ih\ Inconvenience of 
 conveying it by immediate illumination, &c. 16, 18. or by frefh 
 miracles in every age, or to each perfon, 20. 26. completes the 
 bell notices of natural religion, 233. the belief -of any among the 
 heathen given up about our Saviour's time, 134. iinreafonable 
 prejudice of fome moderns againft it, 305. 
 
 Re'velations, made in various countries, 73. by aftion, 77. — more 
 fully communicated to the world as the means of keeping and con- 
 veying them improved, 227. why thofe that accompanied the 
 Ji'zvijh difpenfation were all put under a carnal cover, 238. 
 
 Re'vieiv, a frequent one neceflary in all eftabliftiments, 242. obftruc- 
 tions to it, ih, 
 
 Re'volutiom in governments, occafion for them, 43, 44. 220, i. 
 
 ^^w^r^, the idea of it includes liberty, 18. 
 
 Robberies in Judea alluded to, 318. 
 
 Robertson (Dr.) his Sermon on the fituation of the world at the 
 time of Chrift's appearance, 118. his hiftory of the Church, V, 
 313. gradual improvement of the World, 45. different progrefs 
 of Science and the Arts, 213. 
 , Roman empire, vid. Empire, 
 
 Roman governors, what power they aiTumed over the Jeivs in Chrift's 
 
 time, 140. 
 Romijh church, vid. Popery^ 
 RoTHERAM (Mr.) 44. 67. 171. 
 Rowlands (iMr.) on the time of the difperfion, dd^ 
 Rule of moral aftions, 256. 
 RuTHERFORTH (Dr.) OH thc Ticc of Knowledge, co. 
 
 RUTILIUS, 95. 
 
 I N D E X. 
 
 « 
 
 S. 
 ^ahbaih. originally of divine inllitution, 53. Our Saviour's doarlnc 
 
 in relation to it, 327. ^ 
 Sabbatical year, allufion to it, 315. 
 
 Sacraments xt^oxt the communication between God and us, 291. 
 Sacred hiftory, whence that of Scripture fo called, 265. clear and 
 confiftent, 107. helped to correa and regulate the prophane, tb. 
 Sacrifices, the original and intention of them, 50. 54. the feveral kinds 
 
 of them, and various ufes they might ferve, ;^. and 282. 
 Sacrifice of animals, what notions it conveyed, 50. Ends, ot it, tb. 
 and s 4. not the invention of man, 5 1 . 5 5 • 5 7 • accompamed men s 
 devotion, and was a proper mode of expreffing it in the prinimve 
 times cc. Objeaions to the divine appointment of It, /^.aniwer- 
 ed from the various ufes fuch a rite might ferve, 57. could not 
 be inftituted before the fall, ib. ordered at firft with a merciful 
 defi^n, ih, propagated every where by tradition, ib. and gradually 
 perverted, /^. implies no abfurdity in itfelf, tb. not prefcribed to 
 Ihe 7.ac'x merely in compliance with an inveterate cuftom or 
 prejudice, ib, implied a vicarious fuffenng, 50. how far Ch"ft s 
 death was fuch, 28 1 . not merely fo termed m allufion to the legal 
 facrifices but they rather typical of it, 282. Qualifications of 
 this notion 28^-C. Objeaions to it anfwered, ib, Sacrihces pre- 
 figuring him might convey benefits of the fame kind as the com- 
 memoration of his death, 190. vid. Chrift. 
 Sacrifice continued while the temple ftood ^xljerufalem, 1^6. 
 Sadducees, the reigning party among Uie Jezvs when Chrift came, 
 
 117, fubtle difputers, 131. 
 ^tf//, allulions to it, 313. , . t j r 
 
 Sallation, iu the Scripture phrafe, may imply a particular degree of 
 
 future happinefs, 190. , , «v • ^^i. -At,. 
 
 Samaritans, animofity between them and the J^'trx in Chrift s 
 
 time, 3 1 8. who taxes the latter for it, ib. The end of Providence 
 
 in preferving them, 175. 
 ^j«^/o«j of virtue, what, 256. 
 Sanhedrim, its low ftate at the coming of Chrift, 1 17. abolifties the 
 
 trial for adultery, 322. 1. r ou -a 
 
 Satis faaion to vindiaive juftlce, not implied m the death of Chrift 
 according to Scripture, 28 1 . the whole a fcheme of government, tb. 
 
 Sciences gradually advanced, 42-45. progreffive m the main, tb, and 
 20C 2 14. fpread from one center originally, 211. though carried 
 on much fafter in fome times and places than others, 2 1 8. and often 
 to appearance interrupted, 43. not fo early as is imagined, 205- 
 200: Caufes of their being raifed fo high, 209. falfe pretences to 
 them in Egypt, 208. 215, Babylon, 212. 216. China, 214. no 
 really ufeful ones ever loft, 206, 7. 223. how much we exceed the 
 ancients in them, 223, 5rc. their connexion with each other, and 
 with religious knowledge, 221,2, 3. 1 r /• c 
 
 Scribttire, to be interpreted in the moft common popular fenfe, 326, 
 
 7 not literally, tb, no particular ftrefs laid on words, ib.^ how far 
 
 ihefc infpircd, 265-8. whether the Fathers helped us to interpret 
 
 Scripture, 166-9. it is yet f.r from being thoroughly underftood, 
 
 * 183. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Hi'a'^f^!^' *^°"^ '^ ^'^ ^? ^^"^ language, 263. the fenfe, 264. 
 free ftudy of It recommended, 193-5. ^^i. 268. with fome rules 
 lor It, 193. preparatives for a new verfion, 24?. 
 Search (Mr.) on liberty, 11. 
 
 ^'Ihrm'Vf '^^T'1^1'° 8^"^^^^' 42» 43. 146. no great alteration in 
 tiiem fince the deluge, 205. of the j^^r alluded to by Chriil, ^10. 
 
 Sbleucid.«, favoured the Je^ivs, 99. ^ ' ^ * 
 
 Self, how far a regard may be had to it in virtue, 2C2-.6. 
 
 o^^-war</<?r recommended by Cicero, 122. 
 
 Sejt/e^ moral, and that of honour, &c. may be formed by habit 2-2 
 a popular one, to be fought for in the words of Scripture, We ' 
 
 Ch^Kl'^? T'''''' ^'^^Sn of it in general, 289. form of it, ;hence 
 probably taken, 321. 
 
 Ser/^ent, brazen, the full import of it, 176. 
 
 fo^/of cSd^'Jo^'^'"^"'^^^ ^'"""^ ^^^' °^ ^'''''' ^^ ^^^^"^ ^^^ 
 Seventy, vid. TratiJIation. 
 
 Shaftesbury (Ld.) his fcheme of morals inconfiflent with our 
 
 frame, 250-252. 
 Shechinah, a flan ding one in the firft ages, 5 c. 
 Shem, living till 7^r.i^'s time, agreat means of preferving the wor- 
 
 5Am/, ftate of the dead in general, 413. 
 
 Si,/,ierJ, in what refpefts Chrift anfwered that charafler, 28c. »ix 
 
 Sherlock (Dr.) on death, 203. >■ 3'*- 
 
 ^"^^';°r.'' i^P-^ •"> description of death, 349. of the hopes of im- 
 
 i^„«^ / 1"*" ^'T "^^ "»'"* °f ''^^ '"°"'' 350. of what goes to 
 conftitute the mai:, ii. 6 '-^ 
 
 Ships, the model of them probably uken from N>ab', ark, 67. 
 Shuckford (Dr.) cited, 216. ' 
 
 &6'^« oracles extraded from the Jt^ijh prophecies, 146. a for- 
 
 ^»W. journal thither from Grand Cairo, 148. iirft alphabetical 
 wntmg taught there, i6. ^ •«"<;""» 
 
 5*y« of beafts, why the firft cloathing, 53. propriety of it, ii. 
 
 'T/ot\";&::ii;':f ' '" ""^"''"'' '"'■ ''"''' ^ "-"<» 
 
 5»«*/«/ for propagating religion, account of them, 31. have sreatlv 
 
 . contributed to promote knowledge and virtue, 247. ^ ^ 
 
 5.«^ neceflity for it, 8 admits not of a general equality, o. Di- 
 
 wrfity of genius requifite therein, ib. "i /» !»• "^- 
 
 ^w^'^'^'^'a Pr«P"« men for a reformation, 127. from whence he 
 borrowed Kis notions of a future ftate, .21. his obfervation on a 
 
 f^lV. "^ ^°°?-S' '^'^^on'y. 255- wiftes for fome guide 
 f^tl, /k\' '*• ^"^^ '"• ^l * 'yP** of Chrift, 33,. furprifing re- 
 femblance between themm fome things, /i. and332-4!^dirp!rity 
 in others, it. his irony, theiJlconfequence of it. «c. his vanit/ 
 Jt. his way of difputing fophiftical,^/^. his d»moi¥nterefts hfdf 
 
 fiable compliance with the ^/^^Wa,fuperftition, 336. vain excufes 
 
 made 
 
 I N D E X- 
 
 ' made for it, ih. The indecent language afcribed to him by Plato, 
 ib perhaps ferioufly a polytheift, 338. no martyr for the unity of 
 God ib his fatire the chief caufe of the profecution being carried 
 on fo violently againft him, 335. his laft words, 337. Inconfiften- 
 cies in a late author of his life, 121, 335- ^o' ^° ^^ compared 
 with that of C-^//?, 338. 1. u ui 
 
 SoDOM, how many cities belonged to it, 71. what probably meant 
 
 by her daughters, ib, . . ^ , , , 
 
 Solomon, his fame of publick benefit to the world, 149. 
 
 Soul, whether its immortaUty believed by Cicno, 122. t\i^t forfeited 
 by the fall, 51. in. 189. 346-8. reftored by Chrift, zb various 
 fenfes of the word in Scripture, 369, &c, us ftate in death defcnbed 
 there, 390, &c. objeaions, 411. weaknefs of the common argu- 
 ment! for its natural immortality, 43 < • ^ . . ^, - - 
 
 Stirit of God, its ordinary operations confiftent with the ufe of our 
 ^own faculties, 20, 21. attend on their due cxercife, ib. Inconve- 
 nicttcc of fuppofing them increafed, 19. peculiarly mfpeded the 
 firft delivery of the Gofpel, 154, 155. vid. Holy Ghoft. 
 
 Spirit in man, vid. Soul, 
 
 Standard of elegance, 222. 
 
 5f/iftf of the world when C^n^/^came, XI7, &c. t. r j 
 
 Stature of man, the fame now in general as it was three thoufand 
 
 s/e^p H nTc'st ° his murther no proof that the Je^ws of that time had 
 
 the power of executing their judicial fentcnces, 139. 
 Stillingfleet cited, 215. r t. tj -.^ 
 
 Stoicks, not to be imitated in their contempt of the world, 240. 
 Story, the excellence of inftrufting in that way, 323. 
 St R ABO, on the degeneracy of the JeiAjs, 1 17. on the Indian philo^ 
 
 fophy concerning a future ftate, 121. 
 Stranzers, humanity to them required by thtjrwtjh law, 90. 
 Sub/ance, fmall ufe of that word in fettling the nature of the human 
 
 conftitution> 431. 
 Suicide, vid. Self-murder. 
 
 Sun rifmg alluded to by Chrift, 314. r -u j u ^. . kUfT A 
 
 Superiors, oht^i^Tizt to them pradifed and prefcnbed by our bleffed 
 
 Saviour, 308. Anfwer to an objedion, /^. „ . , . _ 
 
 Suterftition He^ip) Toon mixed with chriftianity, 228. it begins to 
 
 wear off, 240. its remains to be oppofed with fober zeal, 241. 
 Survery, the oldeft branch of medicine, 216. rrr r u 
 
 Symi/czues, when chiefly erefted among the Je<ws, 125. Ufe of them 
 
 to prevent idolatry, ib. how many m Jerufalem, ib, how oft Irc- 
 
 duented, ib. \ •n c 
 
 V^^cr«f-worftiip, often alluded to by Chrift, 309. 3io-. . ^ 
 Syftem,^\iy the doftrines of the Gofpel are not delivered m the form 
 
 ofone>ixi.327. 
 
 T. ' 
 
 Tabernacles, the feaft alluded to, 316. 
 Taylor (Bp.) his life of Chrift, 204. 
 
 Taylor (Dr.) on theSbechinah,^^. on the Delude, 63, on the Abra- 
 hamic Covenant, 69. on Jacob's voYf, 80. his notion of atonement, 
 
 »8i. 
 
index; 
 
 iSi. and the death of Chrifl, 283, &c. of our duty to examine all 
 things, 268. The benefits of death, 354. of the ilrcfs laid on the 
 refurreftion, 548.422. the reafonablenefs of afTerting it, 424 
 Taylor (Mr.) his effay on the beauty of the dicvine aconomy dt^^ 
 
 and recommended, 92. 97. 100. 173, 261. 
 Temper in man, whence it may be fuppofed to arife, 10 u 
 Temple (Sir W.) 217. 251. ' 
 
 Temple at Jeru/alem, facrifice oiFered while it Hood, 156. alluded to 
 by Chrift.^iy. 
 
 Temptation of Chrifl, probably in vifion, y6. 
 Ten I SON on the Shechinah, 66. 
 Teruphim what, 69. 
 
 Theocracy^ \\i^Je^5 under a particular one, 148. that typical of an 
 
 univerfaloneunder Chrifl, 180. t /r « 
 
 Theology (Chriflian) wants to be cleared of intricacies, 184, &c to 
 
 ^ be treated with the fame freedom as philofophy, 263. 
 Theory of government, no jufl one without virtue and rehVion 2co 
 Theory of religion, gradually improved, 161. 262. by whtt means, 
 
 236. Variations m it from the principle of human liberty, ib. 
 Theory of Virtue, the true one, 254. 256. 
 
 Thief on the crofs, the meaning of Chrifl's promife to him, 4.21. 2. 
 TrLLOTsoN (ABp.) 284. 347. » ^ *> -'^ 
 
 Time, order of it negleded hy Mark ^n^ Luke, 309. the fulnefs of it. 
 when the world was in a Hate of maturity, 42. 129, 144. 153. 
 Pitnefsof that wherein the Gofpel was divulged. yx^.ChriJiianitx. 
 time unperceived no time, 156. 363. 423. 
 
 Times, the badnefs of them complained of in every a^e, loQ the 
 groundlefTnefs of fuch complaint, 200, &c. 245, 6. 
 
 Tithes, originally of divine inilitution, 53. 
 
 Tongues, confufion of them when caufed, 66. neceflity for it, ih 
 
 tradition (oral) inferior to written revelation, 26. might more fkfely 
 convey religion in the antediluvian world, 63. and for fome time 
 after. 6y though foon corrupted, 147. appealed to by the heathens 
 for their notions of futurity, 120. preferred by the Je^ws about 
 Chrift s time to their law, 1 19. the evidences of Chriilianity not 
 to be left to it, 139. the fenfe of Scripture conveyed by it, not to 
 be relied on, 263. / y 
 
 Traditions, fuppofed to be derived from the apoflles, of what ufe in 
 the interpretation of Scripture, 161. 
 
 Trance, Balaamh revelations perphaps all in that wav, 76, 77. 
 
 Tranjlation of the Bible, great defeds in it, 263. preparations for a 
 new one, 243. that by the Seventy a new publication of the Jeivs 
 rehgiOii, 98. a day of rejoicing formeriy kept for it, ib. turned 
 afterwards to a fail, ib. which is Hill continued, ib. 
 
 Travjlaiion of Enochs what might be inferred from it, 61. 
 
 Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, what it meant, co. 
 
 Trial for adultery alluded to by Chrifl in John viii. 322. abolifhcd 
 by the Sanhedrim about his time, ib. 
 
 Tribes (ten) their difperfion all over the Eaft, fpreads the knowledge 
 of their hiilory and religion, 97. their defcendants continue thc?e 
 to thi:, day, 151. have a temple on the Q02i2ioi Coromandel lekm- 
 
 bling 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 iorid, Sf'''''''' '^' ^'^ ^^'^^^ ""^^^ ^^^ ^''"' ^°^^^^s ^^ the 
 r^/W/y, ill confequences of the difputes about it, 17,. 2, n 
 
 267,'' 8 "^^"'^"^'^'''^ ^''^'''"' '"''^''"^ ^^^^^^^^^ infallibility, 
 TuLLY. vid. Cicero. 
 TuNSTALL (Dr.) 233. 
 
 ^rLl'^/„d^n^%^'/T''^ ^" '^' >^'>^ inaitution, 149. Ld. Bar. 
 rington and Dr. Sykes feem to reject them, ib, as alfo Le Ckrc. ih. 
 
 V. 
 
 ^^'l^r^^i^^'^^"''^ ""^ ^^^ different opinions about the ^ummum 
 Vegetati've animals, 430. 
 
 Vice naturally produdive of diforder and decay in every conflitution. 
 249 Anfwer to MW.^///.'s objeftions, ib. vid. Fable of the Bees 
 
 be'S^TrSrrif TT. '""^ ?^'' '45. whether thefeln our own 
 De worle than thofe of former times, 245, 6. 
 
 f'trgsn Mary, why fo publickly reproved by Our blefTed Saviour 
 
 Virtue, whatis the true principle and end of it,254. 257. whether it 
 degenerates daily, ib. the pradice of it owned to be improving, ib 
 on the whole ever produdive of happinefs, 250. how far To be 
 termed felfifh, 254. whether injured by modern improvements. 
 255. how far an artificial one may ferve all purpofes, 257. 
 
 Ftrtues of the prefent age, whether fome are not in as great perfec- 
 tion as ever, fmce the firfl publication of the Gofpel, 246: 
 
 l^tjion, revelations made in it not always diflinguifhed from real fafts, 
 7^» n* Inftances of fuch, //^.—frequent in eariy times, 72, &c. 
 
 VlTRlNGA, 55. 125. 166. 175. ^ ' 
 
 Underjianding. vid. Abilities. 
 
 Uniformity, beft prefer ved upon the prefent plan of human nature, 
 9-715- of public worlhip, could be none upon the foot of private 
 mfpirations, 25. * r 
 
 Vni'verfal, in what fenfe natural religion is fo, 6, 7, why neither na- 
 tural nor revealed religion can be fo flriftly, 8^ i c. the objeaion 
 given up^ at lafl by Chubb, 16, 17. the greateft Hrefs laid on it by 
 modern infidels, 42. 
 
 Vni-uerfal, hiftory cited, 1 74, 5, 
 
 Voltaire, 223. 244. 
 
 Voixs,Je-wiJh doarine in relation to them correaed by our blefTed 
 Saviour, 328. / »* 
 
 W. 
 Warburton (Bp.) 95. 122. 
 
 ^^A'^f the feet, the import of that aaion, 312, 313. 
 Watts (Dr.) on the gradual commencement of the Chriflian reli- 
 
 g^°"» '54« on the intermediate flate, 43 1, 2. 
 Weeks, ancient method of reckoning by them owing to the divine in- 
 
 ititution of the Sabbath, 52. 
 
 WiRENFELSlUS, 186, 
 
 H h WisTo.v 
 
297- 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Weston (Mr.) 130. 
 
 Wetsten in N. T. 267.321.325, 409. 
 
 Whitby, 160. 
 
 WiNDJER, 65. 148. J50. 212. 225. 238. 244. 
 
 IVonden little regarded in the heathen world, ; 
 
 VVOOLSTON, 142. 302. 
 
 IVords, no exaa llrefs laid on them in the Eaftern writings, 326. 
 
 n'orU, Hate of it when Chriil came, 116. gradually improves in 
 knowledge, 42. 207- 2iz. — [v\6., Impro'vements) the more we know 
 of ir, the more we are convinced that its inhabitants were defigned 
 for happincfs, 233. and can infer the fame of another, ib. not to 
 be wholly defpifed, 240. ncceiTary to form right notions of its paft 
 llatc, 254. the plcafure of furveying it, and ourftation in it, loft 
 by imagining all things to be on the decline, 247, &c. 
 
 IVoi-jhip, the time of it originally appointed by God, 52. as alfothe 
 manner, ib. 
 
 WoRTHiNGTCif LDr.)'43, 61,112. 171. 178. 180- 204. 220. 229, 
 
 230. 247.323. 
 WoTTON (Dr. W.) 215. 
 IViitinr, whence originally derived, 147,8. 150. 227. vid.Zf//^;-/. 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zoophytes^ 430. 
 
 Zoroaster, what grviund to fuppofe him a prophet, 126. How 
 ^ many peifons of that name, ib, the great oracle of the Eaft, 228. 
 Zu L 1 :iA X 's t-mple in the Ea/} InditSt 151. 
 
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