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to the other Prophets by dreams and vifions and in the fulness of time by his only begotten Son. Which gracious discoveries muft needs have been very powerful and convincing with those perfons to whom they were communicated, under the immediate teftimony of mighty figns and wonders; and we may flatter ourselves that had we lived in the days of the Prophets, we should have readily believed whatsoever they delivered, without doubt or fcruple. Yet let no one think that the want of fuch evidence takes off from the reafonableness, or will excuse the deficiency, of our faith. The advantage is pronounced to be on our fide: "Bleffed are they (faid our Lord) who have not feen and yet have believed." It is true, Mofes is dead, and the Prophets are dead; neither do our old men dream dreams, nor our young men fee vifions; miracles have ceafed, and God in the "form of a fervant dwells no more with

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men on the earth. Still, the all-wife Governor of the World hath taken especial care that we also, upon whom the latter days are come, fhould not be deftitute of fufficient proof, nor of any rational incitement to work out our falvation. He hath favoured us with the most authentic Records of his moral Government and providential Difpenfations; of such infinite importance, and fo divinely penned, that whoever reads may " find rest to his foul." For as "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;" so the Holy Scriptures also come to us, indited by the fame divine Spirit; written aforetime, and preferved for our learning, that we " through patience and comfort of them might have hope."This is an anchor to the Chriftian both fure and stedfast.

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The weakness of Man, joined with the malice of Satan, would in courfe of time have easily corrupted the revealed will of God, had it relied on the uncertainty of oral tradition: True Revelation had been long fince rendered fabulous, and counterfeit traditions paffed for authentic. But the facred writings were neither liable to fuch corruption, neither have they fuffered it; being still fully poffeffed of every degree of evidence, that the nature of things will poffibly admit of. So truly may our Bleffed Saviour be faid in this respect alfo to be with us alway, in that we have at this day as powerful motives to faith and obedience, as they had, who heard his fermons and who faw his works.

But now If the Holy Scripture be a standing declaration of the divine will; given unto us that we might know the certainty of those things which are written;

written; and, as St. John testifies, " that we might believe that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God, and that believing we might have life through his name;” it must be the undoubted privilege as well as indifpenfable duty of every individual (who hath it in his power) to read, learn, and inwardly digeft those spiritual truths, which fo nearly concern him, and on which his eternal happiness depends. This indeed is a point fo agreeable to reason, and to the express commandment of God, both under the law of Mofes, and under the gospel of Chrift, as to want no enlargement before a Proteftant audience. I proceed therefore to offer a few confiderations refpecting a right performance of the duty itfelf.

It is an old complaint that no book was ever fo well written, but through ill will, or misconstruction, it hath been, undervalued, and fo it fares with the R 4 Holy

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Holy Bible-the Book of Life.

Some

from the matter, others from the style, method, or on fome other account, either charge it with falfhood, or think contemptuously of it; and many perhaps merely because it is cheap and common ; like the Children of Ifrael, who loathed their Manna. Notwithstanding, whoever with pious and upright intention peruses the facred volumes, will be obliged to confefs with Holy David, that— "The law of the Lord is an undefiled

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law, converting the foul; that the teftimony of the Lord is fure, and giveth wisdom unto the fimple; that "the statutes of the Lord are right, and

rejoice the heart; that the command"ment of the Lord is pure, and giveth

light unto the eyes; that the fear of

"the Lord is clean, and endureth for

ever; that the judgments of the Lord " are true, and righteous altogether."

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