upon all occafions to exert and apply in the best manner we are able.

The first and leading principle in all religious enquiries is certainly Reason ; that univerfal light " which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." By this rule not only the opinions of fallible men, but the credibility and evidences of the Scriptures themfelves are to be tried; which were not given to invalidate our Reafon, but to aid and further it: And whoever prefume to set these at variance with each other, are in reality enemies to both: It being inconceivable that the all-wife Lawgiver should require any thing of his intelligent fubjects, as effential to their happiness, that upon thorough examination is contradictory to that common fenfe, and those moral notices, which He originally implanted in their nature.

There

There is however a point of great caution to be attended to in this cafe which is, that we never exalt the reasoning faculty above what is written: But that, after having fairly employed it within it's proper sphere to ascertain the divinity of Revelation, we then submit it to whatever appears to be agreeable to the Word of God, and confirmed by his authority. There are many things in Scripture, delivered by Chrift and his Apostles, confeffedly beyond our comprehenfion: But that thefe facred writings are the oracles of God, containing the whole of his will to mankind; and that they are consequently the only certain standard of our belief and practice, are fimple propofitions level with the capacity of every reasonable enquirer. And whereas all things neceffary to man's prefent duty, and to his eternal falvation, are comprized therein; fo are all fuch things anfwerably clear, and

eafy

eafy to be apprehended in them. There is no need of any visible infallible Guide and Interpreter, with refpect to the ef fentials of Christianity, provided men's hearts are upright and their affections fincere. Hence alone are they poffeffed of an unerring criterion, even the ba lance of the Sanctuary, ever at hand to detect the false weights and false meafures of those, who would obtrude their mischievous tenets upon the faith and confciences of Chriftians. With this it was that the Captain of our Salvation repelled the infolent temptations of the Devil; and by the fame fpiritual weapon may we in like manner be enabled to quench all the fiery darts of his wicked Agents and Minifters.

Hither then let us bring their doc trines and practices to the teft. — To instance in a few particulars-Do any now, under the meridian of Gospel

light, pretend to extraordinary illuminations, instantaneous impulfes, and feelings (as fome are pleased to express it) of the Holy Ghost? Let them prove their pretenfions by the fruits of that bleffed Spirit: And these are declared by St. Paul to be love, joy, peace, gentlenefs, meeknefs, and the like. Whatfoever then is contrary to any of these, whatever tends to interrupt the order and quiet of society, by introducing divifions into a Church truly apoftolical, or factions into a well conftituted state, cannot poffibly be of God; but "is earthly, fenfual, devilish." Again. Would any delude us, whether under colour of argument or miracle, to the worship of Images, or of Angels, and Saints departed; or to place an impious confidence in bare outward ceremony and fuperftition? It is plainly written, "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and Man, the man Christ Jefus ;"

VOL. II.

C

Jefus ;" and that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Thus too, in general answer to the various and unscriptural attempts of those, who would either beguile us of the promises made to faith, or evacuate the needfulness of good works; or who go about to flatter men into a reliance upon the pure mercy of the divine Being, or to disarm his threatenings against impenitent finners; or in any respects oppose the established truths of the gospel; we have the warrant of an Apostle, that " though an Angel from Heaven preach unto us any other gospel than that we have received, let him be accurfed." In fhort, the perfect Word of God, as long ago committed to the Bible, or Canon of Scripture, to which not a tittle is to be added, nor one jot to be diminished from it, by any human authority whatsoever, is that fovereign touchstone, by which the Spirit of every Teacher is to be tried; that indifputable