vens, the name of Deity; and the attributes of power, majesty, and immutability. But where is the record of pardon? It is neither written by the sun-beam; nor wafted on the breeze. Where is the record of immortality? It is not inscribed on the face of the heavens; nor revealed by the operations of nature. "The depth saith, 'It is not in me!' and the sea saith, "It is not in me!" Look abroad into creation. "Canst thou by searching find out God? "Canst thou find out the Almighty unto per"fection? It is high as heaven, what canst thou "do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know? "The measure thereof is longer than the earth; "it is broader than the sea!" From what has been advanced, we conclude, that the state of man, considered as destitute of a revelation of the mind and will of God, is truly deplorable. So convinced was Socrates of this, that, from the uncertain decisions of reason on the most important subjects, he not only concluded that such a divine revelation was necessary; but expressed his persuasion, that such a communication would be made.* If you admit the existence of a God, you must grant, that it is possible for him to give such a revelation. When it is so essential to * See note 4, at the end of this Lecture. D the happiness of man, can we believe that a Being so infinitely gracious as the Deity, would suffer us to remain without this source of consolation? If a revelation be necessary, it is probable: and if it be probable, where are we to expect it? In the mythology of the heathens? In the Koran? In the "Age of Reason?" or in the Bible? Has there ever been a book produced, that has any pretensions to inspiration, this volume excepted? And are not it's claims arising from external and internal evidences, irresistible? "We speak as to wise men, judge ye "what we say!" NOTES. NOTE 1. It would not be difficult to enlarge the catalogue of idols, enumerated in page 14 and 15, of the preceding Lecture, and to assign the different causes of their deification: but to unfold their character, which in that case it would be necessary to do, would be an ungracious task to the writer, and would afford no pleasure to the reader. Our immortal poet has given an ample list of the objects of heathen adoration, under their scriptural names; which will be more familiar to the Bible reader; and while he has veiled their actions in modest language, he has adorned the sad catalogue, so far as it is possible to ornament a barren list with the nervous eloquence of his majestic versification. An abbreviation of his recital is extracted. "Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last "First MOLOCH*, horrid king, besmear'd with blood "Though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, "Worshipp'd in Rabba and her watery plain, "In Argob and in Basan, to the stream It is not easy to determine to which of the heathen deities these Hebrew names apply. Saturn, probably: for his rites are nearly the same. "Next CHEMOS, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons 1 "From Aroar to Nabo, and the wild "Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon "The flowery dale of Sibma, clad with vines, "And Elëalé to th' Asphaltic pool. "PEOR, his other name, when he entic'd "Israel in Sittim.". "With these came they who from the bordering flood "Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts "Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names "Of BAALIM and ASHTAROTH; those male, "These Feminine.". "With these in troop "Came Astoreth, whom the Phenicians call'd "THAMMUZ† came next behind, "Whose annual wound in Lebanou allur'd "The Syrian damsels to lament his fate "In amorous ditties all a summer's day." "Next came one "Who mourn'd in earnest, when the captive ark "Maim'd his brute image "DAGON his name, sea-monster, upward man "And downward fish:- "Him follow'd RIMMON, whose delightful seat "Was fair Damascus." "After these, appear'd * Called also Luna, Diana, Hecate. + Adonis. Probably Neptune. « A crew, who, under names of old renown, "OSIRIS, ISIS, ORUS, and their train, "With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd "Their wandering Gods, disguis'd in brutish forms "The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd; "And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost Isles." Milton's Paradise Lost, Book I. L. 376-521. NOTE 2.-The custom of the Carthaginians of consuming children in honour of Saturn. Diodorus Siculus had been saying, that as the enemy approached the city, the Carthaginians imagined that they had offended Saturn by restraining their human sacrifices: he adds, dioglucaodai δὲ τὰς ἀγνοίας σπεύδοντες, διακοσίες μὲν τῶν επιφανεστάτων παίδων προκρίναντες ἔθυσαν δημοσία : therefore that they might correct their errors without delay, they immolated in public sacrifice two hundred • The Oracle of Apollo. + The oracle of Jupiter. |