indifputable principle of religious knowledge, to which the subtle reasonings and elaborate difquifitions of the wife and learned are ultimately to be fubmitted.

Not that Revelation precludes the usefulness of human learning-it would be abfurdity itself to entertain any fuch wild and enthufiaftical conceit. A fufficiency in this refpect being abfolutely neceffary for the explanation of many things in Scripture hard to be underftood; and which ignorant and perverfe minds are ever gratified in wrefting to the deftruction of themselves and others. Even the attainment. of different languages, fo requifite to a critical interpretation of the facred writings, is now become a task of itself no less irksome than it is expedient. And a thorough knowledge in general of the various and important matter contained in them, must be allowed to require as good parts

and as diligent application, as any human fcience whatfoever. Nay, to the watchful labours of ftudious and indefatigable men are we at this day indebted, under the Providence of God, for the Scriptures themselves in their original purity; and moreover for the happy reformation of Chrift's Church from the encroachments of error, fpiritual tyranny and superstition; for which the Inhabitants of this Land can never be too thankful.

The more therefore our reafon is cultivated, and improved by learning and study, the more capable will it be of doing real service to Religion: So long as it acts only in a ministerial capacity, without ufurping on the prerogative of Revelation. But when once it quits it's province, and affects to be wife above what is written, it is then high time, it is then indeed every one's bufiness, to

diveft it of it's affumed dress, and to bring it down to the naked fimplicity of the gospel According to which God having declared that He will judge all men by Jefus Chrift, it were inconfiftent with his wifdom and goodness, not to have given them therein a fufficient rule in all things neceffary to their falvation. And as to fuch things as are not neceffary to this, but are rather points of controverfy, or of mere fpeculation; it cannot furely be conftrued into an abridgment of human liberty, though we advise those, whofe capacities and fituations in life difqualify them for deeper refearches, to fatisfy themselves with those plain articles of faith and lines of precept, which are obvious to common apprehenfion. Since we may reft affured that He, with whom we have to do, is too righteous a Governor to place the eternal interests of the bulk of mankind beyond the reach of their abi

"He lities. We have his word for it, would have all men to be faved;" and therefore doth he deal with us in a like providential manner respecting our fouls and bodies; by ordaining that the means neceffary for the prefervation of both fhould be most easy to be acquired; leaving withal in either cafe abundant room for the application of honest industry and ingenuous ftudy.

Christianity is in truth an amazing fcheme for the advancement of human happiness; the profound depths of which the most learned men are utterly unable to fathom; and which even the Angels, we are told, defire to look into. But fo much of it as we are at prefent concerned to know is easily enough to be apprehended; happy for the world! were it as willingly embraced, and confcientioufly practifed. Repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jefus

Chrift,

Christ, as required in the gospel, and for the benefit of the illiterate fet forth in the Catechifm of our Church, are fuch explicit terms of falvation, as, one would think, could puzzle the brain of no rational creature.

And yet, it is very obfervable, the more ignorant fort of Chriftians, who have any fenfe at all of Religion, are most apt to be amazed and captivated with unintelligible divinity. What is ftill worse, there are certain myftick Teachers gone out into the world, ever forward to avail themselves of this weak fide of their brethren; by inftilling into them fuch unwarranted and enthusiastical opinions, as ufually terminate in a kind of spiritual intoxication, fometimes diftraction. Now, to attempt the recovery of fuch by dint of reasoning, whose actuating principle is not subject to reason, (as the fumes of enthusiasm certainly are not)