ceit? These books, were, many of them, directed to large societies of men, in different parts of the world; were early translated into divers languages, in which they still continue extant; have been publicly kept and publicly read in the churches; have been uniformly appealed to by all sects and denominations, and never called in question either by the friends or enemies of the Christian cause. All these things put together, we have as much certainty that these Histories are not, cannot be forgery or imposture, as we can have of any thing, whatever, not immediately open to our senses.

As there are a solitary few, who apparently wish to believe that the scriptures have suffered exceedingly by the interpolations of translators, who have interlarded them with human inventions, and that of course, as we have them in English, they are far from being genuine. It is a sufficient refutation of this opinion, to ask, how it comes to pass that the most celebrated schoolmen, living in any age subsequent to that of the translators, and belonging to the numerous and various denominations which have ever since existed, should never be capable, by the utmost stretch of their profound erudition, to discover the villany? Or, can we believe it to be possible, that the classical men, of every age and of every sect, however discordant in other things) have uniformly and constantly combined to conceal the most consummate treachery that ever was practised on the human race?

But, to return and conclude:-If the scriptures are not true, then all the known laws of Nature have been changed; all the motives and incentives to human actions, that ever had obs tained in the world, have been entirely inverted; the wickedest men have taken the greatest pains, and endured the greatest hardship and misery to invent, practise, and propagate the most holy religion that ever was; and not only the apostles and first preachers of the gospel, but whole nations of men, and all sorts of men, Christian, Jew and Pagan, were (nobody can imagine how or why) confederated to propagate a known cheat, against their own honour, interest and safety; and multitudes of men, without any pros pect of advantage here or hereafter, were brought most constantly and tenaciously to profess what they knew to be false-to exchange all the comforts and pleasures of life, for shame and contempt, for banishments, scourgings, imprison ments and death; in a word, voluntarily to expose themselves to the hatred of both God and man-and that without any known motive whatever. These absurdities are certainly the native consequences of the suppositions herein stated, otherwise we must allow, that no man ever was or ever can be certain of any thing.

Finally-Every man will readily acknow ledge, that the scriptures must have had an author among the intelligent beings which exist, created or uncreated Now it is self-evident, that Satan could not have been their author, because they wholly tend to the ruin of his king

dom, and interest in the world. And it is equally evident they were not the productions of wicked men, because the scriptures uniformly condemn all deceits and sinful inclinations and practices; [this is their express tendency;] and because the penmen candidly relate their own failings--whereas impostors have never been known to expose themselves by any such performances, to the rage and hatred of the world, but conceal their own vices, and flatter men's corruptions, in order to procure carnal pleasures, honours or riches, to themselves.

It is also equally evident, that good angels or good men, could not be the authors of the scriptures, because they could never pretend to be God, nor speak in his name without his commission. And, besides, good angels and good men, are, in scripture, emphatically styled the sons of God; and being such, it was utterly impossible they could be capable of committing such a forgery on such a Father: So that, against all artifice and opposition, this testimony remains impregnable" All scripture is given by inspiration of God." For The prophecy came not in old time, by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Compared with Rev. 22. 18, 19.

་

AN OUTLINE

OF THE

CHRISTIAN'S

CHARACTER AND FELICITY.

Mark the perfect, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace....DAVID..

In the following sketch, circumstantial enumerations are not to be expected. The duties and trials of the Christian, are so numerous, that a full account of them would be impracticable. Perhaps it would be equally impossible, to draw such a description of the Christian as would exactly correspond with the various views, feelings and exercises, which exist among the true mem. bers of Christ, in this state of distance and imperfection, where they see through a glass darkly. The reader will therefore please to accept an unpolished outline of the Christian, deduced from the various representations of him, with which the unerring Oracles abound.

As Christianity is a character, so it must have a principle, and this must supremely govern and predominate in the life. We do not consider a

man to be generous and friendly, unless friendship and generosity are fixed principles in his nature. True religion, where it is, must govern the man; and nothing can do this but an inward principle. Grace, which is this principle, must oppose corruption, and finally, prevail over it.

As the heart is the fountain of all external corruption, so it must be the primary and radical receptacle of all true religion. The tree must first be made good, before its fruit can be good. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, be- . hold all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5. 17.

A NEW creature. This short but animated epithet, so truly descriptive of the Christian, contains many important truths, proven and insisted on at large in the pages of inspiration, and necessary to be known by the heirs of life. It clearly implies a change of the highest magnitude. Revelation represents this change, under the terms, conversion, Mat. 18. 3. regeneration, Titus 3. 5. being born of God, John I. 13. created in Christ Jesus, Eph. 2. 10. having a new heart, Ezek. 36. 26. a Divine nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. putting off the old man and putting on the new, Eph 4. 22—24. Our Lord strongly expresses the nature and necessity of this change, to Nicodemus, when he tells him, that "Unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven." The scripture evidence of the wretched state of man by nature, is very extensive. Christ is said to have come as a Physician to the sick, and to seek that which was