view it as a fyftem, which was then entirely new, and had never been heard of before, fit down very coolly to weigh its merits as placed in the balance with the schemes of heathen philofophy, and natural divinity, which then were, or fince have been fet in oppofition to it. They do not fee, or are not willing to fee that light of evidence, which fhews the truth and purpose of the everlasting covenant, entered into by the adorable Three in Jehovah for man's redemption, before the foundations of the world were laid. They overlook the unity of this grand and merciful defign, and will not observe that beautiful chain of connection, by which the "promise was united with the performance, the "prophecy with the completion, the anticipation "with the event;"* all tending to illuftrate the character, and display the glories of that Almighty Deliverer, who from the very fall of man, stood forth his Redeemer, and Interceffor. They do not confider, that for the manifeftation of this wonderful perfon, in whom all the nations of the earth were to be bleffed, there was a fullness of time appointed, to which all the preceding difpenfations looked forward; juft as there is now a fulness of time determined, to which our views ought to be continually directed, when all the nations of the earth will be fummoned to appear before the tribunal of that" juft and righteous One," who came

firft

See Dr. Randolph's Sermons on this fubject.

firft to fave, and will at laft come to judge the world.

These are the great and interesting objects, which our Christian principles lead us to contemplate: And when we furvey the imminent danger to which fuch principles are expofed, from the careless indifference which appears on the one hand, and the wild enthusiasm, which breaks out on the other, both equally tending to fap the foundation, and deftroy the purity of the Chriftian faith; furely we cannot but fee the neceffity of ex rting our utmost endeavours to hold faft our profeffion, and to fix the certainty and fecurity of our belief on its only folid bafis" the truth as it is in Jefus." If his religion be true, it must be fo in every part that is now exhibited to our view; it must have been always fo in every period of time; and those several objects, about which our faith is exercised, the creation, the redemption, and the fanctification of man, were all prefented at once to the eye of Almighty love; they all began together in the unchangeable purpose of Jehovah, and will move on in merciful proceffion, as the covenanted, confederate work of the glorious Three in one undivided Effence, till time fhall be no more,

Little then are we obliged to thofe teachers of natural theology, thofe advocates for what is called Rational Religion, who would take us out of the hands of our firft, our beft, our only fafe inftructor, to prove to us, that there is a God who made us,

and a future ftate of retribution referved for us; and after carrying us to the borders of that awful ftate, there to leave us without a Saviour, or a Sanctifier, who only can enable us to pass the bounds, the great gulph fixed between our fallen nature and a happy immortality. Is it thus, that the light of the gofpel, the meridian brightnefs of the fun of righteoufnefs, is to receive additional fplendour from the feeble taper of human reason, the pitiful glimmering of what is called the Light of Nature? Is it thus that philosophy is to be brought in, to the aid of religion; and the emptinefs of man's Auctuating judgement and understanding to be oppofed to that fulness of wisdom and knowledge, which dwells for ever in the moft High? No: it is not by fuch expedients as thefe, that the caufe of Chriftianity is to be supported, and its influence promoted in the world. We have feen them tried in the balance, and found wanting. God has permitted the experiment to be made, and under a pretence of refining and improving the religion of Christ, by explaining its doctrines in fuch a rational manner, as may recommend it to more general acceptance, a plan has been carried on with wonderful fuccefs, for ftripping it of all its primary importance, and holding it up, as but a fecondary object in the scale of Divine providence.*

With

This plan feems to be recommended by Archdeacon Paley, who maintains that "he, who by a diligent and faithful examination of the original "records, difmiffes from the fyftem one article, which contradicts the ap

With this view, it has been laid down as an incontrovertible position, that what is called Natural Religion constitutes the bafis of revelation, and having therefore prior authority, must be confidered as of fuperior obligation. Accordingly its laws are reprefented as eternal and unchangeable, antecedent to the will of God, and independent on it; fo perfectly agreeable to reafon, and the fitness of things, that God as well as man, the Creator as well as the creature, is obliged to conform to them. The light of nature is thought to be fufficient for the discovery of all that is neceffary to be known refpecting the will and perfections of the Deity; and as this boasted light can only difcover what are called moral duties, they are faid to carry with them.

"prehenfion, the experience or the reafoning of mankind, does more to"wards recommending the belief, and with the belief, the influence of Christianity, to the understandings and confciences of ferious inquirers, "and through them to univerfal reception and authority, than can be effected by a thoufand contenders for creeds and ordinances of human efta"blishment." This, no doubt is partly true, as far as "the apprehenfion, "the experience, or the reasoning of mankind” may be opposed to "creeds "and ordinances of buman eftablishment." But are there no creeds and ordinances of divine establishment, every article of which must be retained as part of the Christian system, however contradictory it may appear to the judgement or apprehenfion of "the natural man—the difputer of this world?" Is there not a "faith-once delivered to the faints," which must be "ear"ly contended for," by all who hope to share in "the common falvation ?” and which faith, he who maintains in its purity, as founded on the autho rity of God, does more towards recommending the belief and influence of true Chriftianity, than "a thousand fuch contenders," as Dr. Paley, for "the apprehenfion, the experience, or the reafoning of mankind." See the dedication of his "Principles of Moral and Political Philofophy," to the Bishop of Carlife.

a natural or eternal obligation; while pofitive duties are but mere arbitrary commands, void of all internal excellency. These and fuch like metaphyfical diftinctions have been eagerly laid hold of, to eftablish the neceffity of a conftant appeal to the tribunal of human reafon; and no precept of scripture must be received as a rule of duty, till it be proved to agree with the dictates of philofophy, and its utility be tried by the ftandard of human wisdom. By thus throwing fo much weight into the fcale of reafon, and fo little into that of revelation, as if every one had a right to frame a religion for himfelf; the authority of fcripture is daily more and more weakened and defpifed, the value of Chriftianity is proportionably depreciated; infidelity raifes its proud afpiring head, and taking advantage of the high ground on which its favourite religion of nature has been (even by fome men of diftinguifhed abilities) imprudently placed, exalts itself against that true knowledge of God, and divine things, which can only be derived from divine revelation *.

Thus we may plainly fee, that nothing has done greater mifchief to our holy religion, than the vain attempts of fome of its teachers, to bring down its

ex

* If the reader be defirous of obtaining farther information on this interefting fubje&, I would beg leave to recommend him to a work, in the perufal of which he will be fure to receive both the benefit and pleasure that muft arife from complete fatisfaction, and which is very properly entitled, The Knowleg of divine Things from Revelation, not from Reafon or Nature. By the late John Elis, D. D. Vicar of St Catherine's, Dublin, and formerly of Brazen Nofe College, Oxford. London, 1771.