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The Confideration of the Grounds and Reafons of our Religion is useful to all forts of Men: for if ever we would be seriously and truly Religious, we must lay the Foundation of it in our Understandings, that, by the rational Conviction of our Minds, we may (through the Grace of God affifting us) bring our Wills to a Submiffion, and our Affections to the Obedience of the Gospel of Chrift; and the more we think of, and confider these things, the more we shall be convinced of them, and they will have the greater Power and Influence in the Course of our Lives. For though the Truth of the Christian Religion cannot, without great Sin and Ignorance, be doubted of by Christians; yet it is a Confirmation to our Faith, and adds a new Life and Vigour to our Devotions, when we recollect upon what good Reasons we are Chriftians; and are not fuch by Custom and Education only, but upon Principles which we have throughly confider'd, and must abide by, unless we will renounce our Reafon with our Religion.

And what Subject can be more ufeful, or more worthy of a rational and confidering Man's Thoughts? These things, which are now made matter of Cavil and Dispute, will be the Subject of our Contemplation, and of our Joy and Happiness to all Eternity in the other World. We fhall then have clear and diftin&t Apprehenfions of the Means and Methods of our Salvation, and shall for ever admire and adore the Divine Wisdom, in the Conduct and Difpofal of those very Things about which we now are most perplex'd. THE

THE

-

That from the Nation of a God, it neceffarily fol-
lows that there must be fome Divine Reve-
lation.

T

HE Being of a God, evident to Naturai Rea-

fon, p. 2, 3. That there are wicked Spirits, Ene-

mies to Mankind, p. 4, &c. The miferable Con-

dition of Man, without the Divine Direction, and

Affiftance, and that God would not leave him without

all Remedy in this Condition, p. 7. The Judgment of

St. Athanafius in the cafe,

The Way and Manner by which Divine Revela-

tions may be fuppofed to be delivered and pre-

Served in the World.

The Manifeftations of God's ordinary Providence infuffi-
cient, and therefore fome extraordinary way of Revela-
tion neceffary, p. 14, 15. The ways of extraordinary
Revelation, either immediate Revelation to every par-
ticular Perfon, or to fome only, with a Power of Mi-
racles and Prophecies to enable them to communicate
the Divine Will to others, p. 15. I. It could not be
requifite that God should communicate himself by imme-

diate Revelation to every one in particular, ibid. II. Prophecies and Miracles are the most fitting and proper means for God to discover and reveal himself to the World by, p. 21. (1.) Concerning Prophecies, ibid. (2) Concerning Miracles, p. 26: III. Divine Revelations must be supposed to be preserved in the World by Writings, p. 33. IV. They must be of great Antiquity, p. 34. V. They must be fully published and promulged,

The

PART II.

CHA P. I.

The Antiquity of the Scriptures.

ibid.

He Antiquity of the Scriptures, a circumftance very confiderable to prove them to be of Divine Revelation, p. 35, 36. They give an account of Divine Revelations made from the beginning of the World, p. 37. What Mofes relates of things before his own time, is certainly true; and must have been difcovered to be falfe, if it had been for P. 37, 38.

CHA P. II.

The Promulgation of the Scriptures.

I. In the first Ages of the World, the Revealed Will of God was known to all Mankind, p. 44. II. In fucceeding Ages there has ftill been fufficient Means and frequent Opportunities for all Nations to come to the knowledge of it, p. 58. (1.) The Law of Mofes did particularly provide for the Inftruction of other Nations in the Revealed Religion, p. ibid. (2.) The Providence of God did fo order and difpofe of the Jews, that other Nations had frequent opportunities of becoming inftructed in the True Religion, p. 71. Teftimonies of the Heathen concerning the Jews, and their Religion, p. 92. There have ever been divers Memorials and Remembrances of the True Religion among the Heathen, p.97.

of

Of the Sibylline Oracles, p. 102. The Gospel had been preached in China and America, before the late Dif coveries, p. 109, 110. The Confeffions both of Proteftants and Papifts, as to this matter, p. 115. Chrifians in all Parts of the World, p. 116. A Sect called the Good Followers of the Meffiah, at Conftantinople, p. 117. Though great part of the World are ftill Unbelievers, yet there is no Nation but has great opportunities of being converted, p. 123. The cafe of particular Perfons confidered,

CHA P. III.

Of Mofes and Aaron.

p. ib.

The Sincerity of Mofes in his Writings, p. 127. He was void of Ambition, p. 130. Aaron and He had no contrivance between themselves to impofe upon the People,

CHAP. IV.

Of the Pentateuch,

P. 131.

great im

The Pentateuch written by Mofes, p. 132. The partiality visible in thefe Books, p. 133. The Book of Genefis an Introduction to the rest, ibid. The principal Points of the Hiftory of the Jews, confefs'd by the Heathen,

CHAP. V.

P. 134, 135.

Of the Predictions or Prophecies contained in the Books of Moles.

The Promife of the Meffias, p. 136. The Predictions of Noah, ibid. The Promifes made to Abraham, p.137. The Prophecies of Ifaac, &c. p. 138. Of Jacob, p.139. Of Balaam, p. 140. Of Mofes, ibid. &c.

CHAP. VI.

Of the Miracles wrought by Mofes.

I. The Miracles and Matters of Fat contained in the Books of Mofes, as they are there related to have been

C

done,

done, were at firft fufficiently attefted, p. 147. II. The Relations there fet down, are a true Account of the Miracles wrought by Mofes, and fuch as we may depend upon, p. 160. For, (1.) These things could not be feigned by Mofes and Aaron, and others concerned with them in carrying on fuch a Defign,p.161. (2.)The Miracles could not be feigned, nor the Books of Mofes invented or falfified by any particular Man, nor by any confederacy or combination of Men, after the death of Mofes, p. 163. (3) The Pentateuch could not be invented nor falfified by the joint' consent of the whole Nation, either in Mofes's time, or after it, p. 174. Of what confequence the Proof of the Divine Authority of the Pentateuch is towards the proving the rest of the Scriptures to be of the fame Anthority,

CHAP. VII.

p. 180

Of Joshua, and the Judges; and of the Miracles and Prophecies under their Government.

Jofhua, the Author of the Book under his name,p.181,182. The Book of Judges written by Samuel, ibid. The Waters of Jordan divided, p. 183, The Males Circumcifed, at the first coming into Canaan, and thereby difabled for War, contrary to all humane Policy, p. 184. The Walls of Jericho thrown down, and the Prophecy concerning them, ib. The Integrity of Jofhua, p.185. of Eli, p. 186. Of Samuel,

CHAP. VIII.

ibid.

Of the People of Ifrael, under their Kings. From the Revolt of the Ten Tribes, an Argument for the Truth of the Law of Mofes. Prophets in the Kingdoms both of Ifrael and Judah,

CHAP. IX.

Of the Prophets, and their Writings.

p. 187

The kinds of Prophecy amongst the Jews, p. 188. The Fréedom and Courage of the Prophets, and the Reverence

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