communication: first, by dreams, as those of Joseph, and of Pharaoh; secondly, by visions and voices, as in the case of Moses when he saw the burning bush, and heard the words of the great I AM; and, thirdly, by impressions on the mind, whereby important truth was suggested to the Prophet, which was to be conveyed to men by words; and afterwards, that the revealed truth might be preserved, was written in the sacred book. Thus God, who has constant access to the souls of men, conveyed knowledge to the Prophets and Apostles, by dreams when they were asleep, and by visions and voices when they were awake; and in both cases, represented things by words and by sensible images; but at other times he instructed those holy men by immediate and inward inspiration, without the medium either of sounds or of visible signs.

III. The writers of the sacred books were wise and holy men; and were neither deceived themselves, nor designed to deceive others.

That they were wise men, will evidently appear, when we examine their writings by the rules of correct and enlightened criticism. Greece and Rome had many wise men, and their works are monuments of extensive erudition; but when they are compared to the Jewish Prophets, they appear as babes in knowledge and understanding. They walked in the night; but the inspired Prophets walked in

open day. The one had the feeble light of the stars; but the other had the light of the sun. What then shall we say of our Lord's Apostles? They enjoyed a higher degree of light than that which shone on the ancient Prophets. The Prophets walked in the early part of the day, when the sun had not risen in his full strength and glory; but the apostolic age was the meridian day, when divine light shone in all its strength. And both the Prophets and the Apostles were men of strong intellectual powers and vigorous minds, not only in the things of God, but in the affairs of the present life. With a few exceptions, they did not excel in human learning; but they were men of quick discernment, and some of them had a mighty grasp of intellect. If they were the unassisted authors of the sacred books, as infidels represent them to have been, it must be allowed that they were men of astonishing mental powers; and if they were divinely assisted, as we believe they were, their powers, as instruments used by the Deity, stand unrivalled.

But they were eminently holy men; the constant friends of virtue; and the avowed foes of vice. Their conduct on all occasions was most exemplary. Examine their temper: they were just and generous; noble and disinterested; pure and holy. Examine their precepts: they forbad sin of every kind and in every degree; they recommended a pure worship, and supreme love to God; and they uniformly urged both

the necessity and utility of every moral duty. Examine their sufferings in the cause of truth and righteousness: they were despised and hated; imprisoned and banished; tortured and put to death. But they could not be moved from the path of duty, either by promises or threatenings, either by reproaches or sufferings. In all circumstances, whether prosperous or adverse, they were "steadfast and unmovable; always abounding in the work of the Lord." 1 Cor. xv. 58.

It has been insinuated, that they were under the influence of self-deception, and that a strong imagination produced all their pretended revelations from God. But what is the proof? Could mere imagination produce prophetic dreams, which were literally accomplished at the distance of many years, as in the case of Joseph and his brethren? Could imagination produce a plain vision, and a distinct voice, like that which Moses saw and heard in the desert of Arabia? Could imagination discover, by a supposed internal impulse, things totally unknown to men? Did not inspired persons know when the Lord spoke to them with an audible voice? Allow them to have been wise and good men, which cannot be denied by any man of candour, and you must admit that they were not deceived.

Nor could they design to deceive other men. What end could they have had in view, in any attempt to impose on the credulity of men?

Did they aim at wealth? Then they were foolish; for the way they took led to poverty and want. Did they seek honour? So far from it, that the plan which they pursued loaded them with disgrace in the sight of men. Did they seek unhallowed pleasures? They did not. All their proceedings, in the cause of God and truth, were calculated to produce pain and grievous sufferings, both of body and mind. Had they been deceivers, they would have flattered bad men; and excused all their followers, from the arduous duties of life and godliness.

IV. The sacred writings, both of the Old Testament and the New, are full of wisdom and goodness; and, in every point of view, worthy of a God.

Let those who deny these facts carefully examine for themselves; but let them examine impartially, and with due deliberation. There they will find the character of God, the maker and preserver of all things, stated with correctness, grandeur, and sublimity. These writings point out the real character of man with clearness and perspicuity; the civil and religious duties of life; and the doctrine of a future state. We owe to them every correct view we have of creation, providence, redemption, and grace; and on all these great subjects, they communicate the most profound knowledge, and the finest system of wisdom, that ever was presented to the view of man. In them, every truth that is

necessary to be known in sacred things is clearly revealed; the whole duty of man is stated with clearness; and every motive to good works is urged with uncommon strength.

Goodness, in all its varied forms, is displayed in the holy Scriptures; it is recommended in the most pleasing style; it is defended by the most cogent arguments; and it is required as an indispensable condition of life and happiness. These books forbid nothing but what is hurtful and destructive to man; and they require nothing but what will do him good, and clothe him with honour. And if they were universally known, firmly believed, and constantly obeyed, our earth would resemble paradise. The goodness of God, to all his creatures, is set forth in the clearest light, and in the most pleasing and encouraging manner; so that all who are governed by his will, and walk in his ways, may "rejoice evermore, and in every thing give thanks." 1 Thess. v. 16, 18.

These holy writings are worthy of God. They state his wisdom, power, and love in lofty strains. The truths which they contain flow from him as streams from a pure and open fountain; and they return to him again in the love, the obedience, and the praise of his people. It is worthy of God, to give correct information to his rational creatures; and this is done completely in the Bible. It is worthy of him to train men up in the exercise of piety and morality; and this is