ESSAYS

ON

THE MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECTS

IN

RELIGION.

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.-ISAIAH viii. 20.

ESSAYS.

ESSAY I.

On the Divine Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.

Ir is manifest to all, who seriously reflect on the powers and propensities of human nature, that we are formed capable of religion, and have an inward consciousness that we ought to worship some superior Being, on whom our safety and happiness depend: but, at the same time, the state of the world, in all places where the Bible has not been known, unanswerably proves, that we are incapable of discovering for ourselves, a religion which is worthy of God, suited to our wants, and conducive to our true interest. The shortness of life also, and the reasonable persuasion that men in general entertain of a future state, concur to shew that our grand concern lies in another world. Yet uncertainty and perplexity, nay, palpable error and absurdity, have ever encumbered men's reasonings and conjectures on these important subjects. Even at Athens, Jehovah was "the unknown God," Acts xvii. 23. and all beyond the grave was an unknown world.

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

Various impositions, in this matter, have been detected by a careful investigation; and there is but one book in the world, which so much as appears to be a revelation from God. This has stood the test of ages, and undergone the most severe scrutiny; and the more it has been examined by serious inquirers, the fuller conviction have they obtained of its authenticity. No one now ventures forth as an avowed adversary, to dispute its claim in the open field of fair argument: yet few in comparison are practically convinced, that it is the unerring word of God; and an increasing number of objectors perplex themselves and others, by discovering supposed inconsistencies, or unimportant difficulties; or by setting up their own reasonings and imaginations in opposition to its doctrines, and making that disagreement a ground of hesitation or rejection. So that scepticism, or a partial, frivolous, disingenuous, carping infidelity, have become exceedingly common; the minds of young persons especially are poisoned by them; great

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

It may, therefore, be seasonable to state, with all possible brevity, sume of the most conclusive reasons, by which reflecting men have been induced to submit to the authority of the Bible, and to believe, that it is a revelation from the God of Truth. By the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures I mean, such an immediate and complete discovery, by the Holy Spirit to the minds of the sacred penmen, of those things which could not have been otherwise known, and such an effectual superintendency as to those matters which they might be informed of by other means, as entirely to preserve them from all error, in every particular, which could in the least affect any of the doctrines or commandments contained in their writings. Every proposition, therefore, is to be considered as the sure testimony of God, in that sense, according to which the sacred penmen proposed it as truth. Thus facts occurred, and words were spoken, as they stand recorded in the Scripture, as to the import of them, and the instruction to be deduced from them: but we must judge of those facts, or discourses, by the doctrinal and preceptive parts of the Scriptures: nor does it at all invalidate the complete inspiration of the sacred writers to allow, that they expressed themselves in common language, and wrote of things as men generally spoke of them, rather than according to philosophical exactness, or in the style that was used in the schools of the learned, during the ages in which they lived. Supposed, or unimportant errors, or inaccuracies of expression in such things, are not in the least inconsistent with that entire divine inspiration of which we speak; for the Scriptures were not written to render us exact philosophers, or to instruct us in ancient history and geography, but to make us wise unto salvation. Nor do the few immaterial mistakes, which in a long course of years have crept in, through the errors of transcribers, create any difficulty or uncertainty to the humble and teachable inquirer; though they may give occasion to the self-sufficient to cavil and object; for the "Lord taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

Moreover, it is futile and absurd for any man to dispute against particular doctrines, as unreasonable, to disallow any facts as incredible, or to quarrel with any divine dispensations as unrighteous, when he finds himself unable to answer the plain arguments, which are adduced to prove the whole, to be the word of God. If our premises be undeniable, and our deductions unavoidable, obstinacy and self-conceit alone will persist in incredulity; and ridicule, reviling, subtile insinuations, or witty sarcasms, are, in such a case, certain indications of a proud and bitter enmity to the truth itself. If, then, the arguments that shall be adduced, be sufficient to prove the Bible to be the word of God, I hope the reader will recollect, that as a reasonable man, he is bound to study, believe, and obey it, as the rule and standard of all his principles, affections, and conduct. These things having been premised, I

observe

I. That vast numbers of wise and good men, through many generations and in distant countries, have agreed in receiving the Bible as a divine revelation. Many of them have been noted for seriousness, erudition, penetration, and impartiality in judging of men and things. With much labour and patient investigation, they detected the impostures by which their contemporaries were duped; yet the same assiduous examination confirmed them in believing the Bible to be "the word of God," and induced them to recommend it, living and dying, to all others, as the source of wisdom, hope, and consolation. In this view, the tradition of the church has much weight; for whatever abuse has been made of the term, by such as were no part of the true church, yet the whole company of those, who have worshipped the living God in spirit and truth (including them who ventured and laid down their lives for conscience sake, and who were the most pious, holy, and useful