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SERMON III.

THE PRESERVATION AND TRANSMISSION OF

THE SCRIPTURES.

[Preached at the opening of the Synod of Fife, October 13. 1778.]

ISAIAH, li. 4.---7.

Hearken unto me, my people, and give ear unto me,

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my nation: for a law fhall proceed from me, and I will make my judgement to rest for a light of the people. My righteoufness is near: my falvation is gone forth; and mine arm shall judge the people: the ifles fhall wait upon me, and on mine arm fhall they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens fhall vanish away like Smoke, and the earth fhall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner but my falvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness fhall not be abolished. GLORIOUS things are faid of the Gofpel of JESUS: whatever is great and excellent in nature, and all the magnificence of the kingdoms of this world, are but faint fhadows of "the glory that excelleth ;" when language feems to be exhausted, in defcribing the fur

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passing majesty and blessedness of the reign of the Meffiah, the infpired description of it ends with, it is unfpeakable; the heart of man can conceive nothing fo perfect or fo happy.

THE dawn of the Gospel commenced almoft with the beginning of the world. During its progress to the perfect day, kingdoms have arifen and flourished, have decayed and fallen; various revolutions have shaken all nations: but the kingdom of the Meffiah is 26 an everlasting kingdom; his dominion fhall not be destroyed."

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THE verfes now read affert the perpetuity of the Gospel, and suppose its truth and excellence. These are most important and interesting fubjects. Much learning and wifdom have been employed in their illustration. Perhaps it is hardly to be expected that any thing can now be fuggefted that is entirely new; but if what I mean to offer fhall be found fatisfying, if it ferve to heighten our admiration of the divine Providence, and to confirm our faith in the Gofpel of JESUS, this is enough. Did Jews attend to the follow

ing reflections, Jews would become Chriftians: did Papists attend to them, Papists would become Proteftants: did the irreligious attend to them, they would be convinced by attending to them, believers are more established and confirmed in the faith of the Gospel. Give us any reason to hope for fuch effects, and we fhall be perfectly pleafed, without the praise of novelty or ingenioufnefs.

THE tranfmiffion of the Scriptures, the manner of their conveyance, the characters. of those who have communicated them, are the fubjects of this difcourfe: It is naturally divided into two parts: first, The preservation and tranfmiffion of the Old Testament; fecond, The preservation and transmission of the New Testament.

THE field is extenfive; too extensive to be travelled over in the time to which I must confine myself. I fhall endeavour therefore, to bring together, within a very narrow compass, what might have been extended to a great length.

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PART I.

THE prefervation and tranfmiflion of the Old Teftament are to be considered.

To introduce this argument with advantage, it is proper to take a general view of the nature and excellence of the ancient Scriptures. These writings are a collection of doctrines, of laws, of histories, of prophecies. Confidering them in each of thefe points of light, we fhall be convinced of their fafe tranfmiffion from age to age.

In the poffeffion of the Jews, whom fome chufe to reprefent as a rude and barbarous people, are books of unrivalled antiquity, in which we find the fublimeft doctrines refpecting the divine nature. In them the glory of the Deity is afferted and manifested. He is the Self-exiftent, All-mighty, All-fufficient; the Creator, the Governor of the universe.

THE Mofaic account of the creation of the world, of the origin of evil, of the progrefs of fociety, are most rational. When

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we compare with it the cofmology of the Heathens, either by poets or philofophers, and the legends of their hiftorians, we cannot refrain crying out, "This, this is the truth!" We feel ourselves affected as men are, on emerging from a thick and gloomy wood, where they have long wandered, into light, and a fure and patent way. We leave intricacy and confufion, for regularity and enjoyBut we find, in the comparison between Scripture-history and heathen 'traditions, fome degree of analogy; and cannot well hefitate in concluding, that many of them, if not all, proceeded originally from this fource; but tinged, and changed, and corrupted, according to the regions through which they flowed. Climate and foil, the peculiar genius and manners of a people, length of time, and fuch like circumstances, produce great effects of this nature.

"THE law was given by Mofes." This is the summary of the moral law: "Thou shalt "love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, "with all thy foul, with all thy might; and “thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thy"felf." And needs any thing be faid in

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