the enemies of thofe difputable writings? Must not animofity among their friends produce an unexceptionable transmission of them? They especially may be fafely trusted, in communicating writings, whose fystem is graphically defcribed, whofe errors are expofed and confuted in these writings. Now,,

1. THE New Testament, and therefore the Old, for the Old and New Testaments are infeparable, is attested by its enemies; the existence of the books, and of the facts that prove their divinity, is admitted by the enemies of Christianity *. Pagans acknowledge the works of CHRIST, and the writings of his followers: the Jews of ancient times, and of the prefent time, hold up to us the exact fhadow and refemblance of the Gospel-difpenfation, without which the Mofaic is incomplete: the Jews, in opposing CHRIST, fulfil their own prophecies.

WHEN we confider the Jewish writings as containing the doctrines and miracles of Chrif

* See this proved by Dr. Campbell of St. Andrews, Dr. Lardner, Bullet's History of the Establishment of Christianity, &c.

Christianity, the atteftation of the Jews muft furely appear peculiarly ftriking and fatisfying: I fpeak of the facred books. Their uninspired writings of the first age fuppofe the leading facts, and refer to the doctrines of the Gofpel. Pagan and Mahomedan writings do the fame. The ftate of the world and of Christianity, and of Paganism, agrees entirely, according to their own representation, with the truth and divine original of the Gospel, may we not, then, reft in the perfuafion, that this Gospel is the fame they had access to hear of, or to examine, at its firft promulgation, and in the earlier ages? I add, and that it is divine?

2. ANIMOSITY among those who receive the facred writings, produces an unfufpected tranfmiffion of them.

It is well known there were early in the church divifions and herefies among Chriftians these at once ferved to prevent mutilations of the Scriptures, or additions unto them. And when we confider the great violence of animofity between different fects and opinions, how can we account for their Q attach

attachment to one common book, and one common caufe, but by their fulleft conviction that the book and the cause were divine?

I PASS over these things with mentioning them, because I purpose to confider a little more fully the third character.

3. THEY who tranfmit writings as true, which expofe and confute their own system, may be very fafely trufted in the tranfmiffion.

WE might here speak of the various herefies that have arifen in the church, and fhew, that by them we are affured what were the writings acknowledged divine in every age; and how confonant the doctrines of the orthodox have ever been with the doctrines of the Old and New Teftament: but I have chiefly in view, at prefent, this character, as remarkably exhibited in the Church of Rome.

WHAT is this Catholic church, as fhe affects to call herfelf? She has been dreadful and terrible, poffeffed of great power: fhe has perfecuted and anathematifed and destroyed:

ftroyed: her dominion is "diverfe" from every other that has appeared on the face of the earth: fhe "fpeaks great things:" her claims are arrogant and blafphemous fhe changes times and laws at her pleasure. Read her history and legends, and acknowledge the juftnefs of this character, "Whofe coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and figns, and lying wonders, and "with all deceivablenefs of unrighteousness." Her feat is in the city of the "feven hills ;' and she hath power "over kings, and people, "and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.' You all know whence these descriptions are taken are they not exceedingly just and graphical? They are contained in that volume which the Church of Rome declares' to be infpired of GOD.

We live in an age when a faithful portrait of Popery is not to be drawn from the writings of the day, or from the confeffions and manners of fome of those who belong to her communion*. The progrefs of found learning and philofophy, freedom of inquiry,

inter

*See Dr. Grant's Dissertations on Persecution a principle of Popery, Middleton's Letter, &c.

intercourse with Proteftants, the jealoufies of statesmen, the power of fatire and ridicule, not to mention art and disguise, have had a confiderable effect in altering the appearance of Popery. But where is Popery to be found? In the writings furely, of her defenders, and in the decisions of her councils. Let it not be faid, what are the fentiments of this or that man or writer; Popery will be found, in these archives, a system very different from the holy Scriptures. Let us comthe one with the other.

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THE Bible fays, Worship God alone: Popery commands men to worship angels, and men, and women, and whomfoever she shall please to canonize.

THE Bible says, There is one mediator between GOD and man, the man CHRIST JESUS: Popery maintains, there are many men and women who can mediate between GOD and man.

THE Bible requires faith in its doctrines: Popery explains and defines articles of faith, at her pleasure.

THE