can be no parallel inftance produced under heaven, of any number of writers thus agreeing, though they lived in the fame age: and it is difficult to find any one author, not inspired, confiftent with himself throughTherefore this confiftence and harmony running through the writings of fuch a number of men, who liv ed in different ages, and which took up the space of fifteen hundred years to complete them, after they were began, proves they must have been infpired by the all feeing, unchangeable God.

VI. THE contents of the Bible, or the truths therein revealed and the duties enjoined, are the greatest and crowning evidence that these writings are given by divine inspiration, and ferve to ftrengthen and confirm all the other arguments which have been mentioned.

This argument will of course be particularly illustrated in the proposed following work, in which the fcriptures are to be examined, in order to find what are the truths and duties therein revealed and inculcated; what fyftem of religion is there taught. It may be proper, however, to obferve here in general, that we find in the Bible an orderly, intelligible, concife and well connected history of all those events which are most important and necessary to be known by the the church, from the beginning of the world, down to the time in which this book was completed. The being, character, designs and works of God, are reprefented to be fuch as reafon muft approve, and pronounce harmonious, and becoming the true God. The flate and character of man, and God's defigns and works refpecting him, are fet in a clear light. What God requires of man, as his duty, and the way in which he may find acceptance with God, and be happy, are particularly ftated with great plainness. A judgment to come, and a future ftate of rewards and punishments, are revealed. Promifes to those

who

who believe and obey the truth, and threatnings to the disobedient and impenitent, run through all those writ ings; and the beft and strongest conceivable motivés are fet before men, to deter them from fin, and excite them to fear and obey God.

Here two things may be obferved,

1. What is revealed in the fcriptures concerning the perfections and works of God, his laws as the rule of duty, the nature and evil tendency of fin, and the description given of true virtue and religion, and their happy tendency and end, appears fo reasonable and evident to every attentive perfon, when revealed, that this, with the other evidences that have been mentioned, is fuffici ent to convince the reason and judgment of every one, that this is a revelation from God, though their hearts be ever fo corrupt and vicious; and has generally proved fufficient, unless where peculiar prejudices by education or otherwise, have taken place.

2. The honeft, virtuous mind only, which does difcern and relish the beauty and excellence of truth and virtue, will fee and feel the full force of this argument for the divinity of the holy fcriptures. Such have true difcerning to fee the wonderful, excellent, glorious things revealed in the holy fcriptures, which in themselves carry a moft fatisfying and infallible evidence of their truth and divinity. They see the divine ftamp which this system of truth carries on it, and believe and are fure that this is the true God, and that here is eternal life. They therefore no longer need any other evidence but this which they find in the contents of the holy fcriptures; in this they rest satisfied, and are affured that the writ ings contained in the Bible are the word of God.

Thus the holy fcriptures are attended with the highest poffible evidence that they came from God; they carry that external and internal evidence of their divinity, to the reason and confcience of men, which is fufficient to

convince

convince them, however corrupt their hearts may be : But the highest internal evidence is fully difcerned only by the humble honeft mind, which is difpofed to relish, love and receive the truth. To fuch the true light fhines from the holy fcriptures with irrefiftible evidence, and their hearts are established in the truth. They believe from evidence they have within themselves; from what they fee and find in the Bible. And as all might have this evidence and certainty that the contents of the Bible are from God, did they not exercife and indulge those unreasonable lufts, which blind their eyes to the the beau ty and excellence of divine truth, unbelief is in every inftance and degree of it wholly inexcufeable and very criminal.

HAVING Confidered the abundant evidence there is that the writings contained in the Bible are given by divine inspiration, the following obfervations may be made concerning this facred book.

1. This is a complete, unerring and perfect rule of faith and practice, and the only rule. This being understood and believed, is fufficient to make men wife unto falvation; and we have no warrant to believe any religious truth, unless it be revealed, or can be fupported by the holy fcriptures; and this is the only rule of our duty. We may be certain, if God has given us a revelation, it is in all refpects complete, and in the best manner fuited to answer the end: And must be the only ftandard of truth and duty.

2. Whatever may be justly and clearly inferred as a certain confequence from what is exprefsly revealed in the fcriptures, must be confidered as contained in divine revelation, as really as that which is expreffed. For inflance, if from any two or more truths, exprefsly revealed, another certainly follows, that other truth, by the fuppofition, is really contained in those expressly reveal

ed,

ed, and therefore is in fact revealed or made known, in the revelation of them..

3. The holy fcriptures are not to be understood without a constant, laborious attention to them, and a careful examination and search of them, in order to know the mind and will of God therein revealed. This is no evidence that the scriptures are not plain and easy to be underftood; as plain and intellible, as in the nature of things they can be, and adapted, in the best manner to give inftruction in those things about which they treat : For they cannot be inftructed by the best poffible means of inftruction, who will not attend and take pains. They only who "incline their ear unto wisdom, and apply their heart to understanding; who cry after knowledge, and lift up their voice for understanding; who feek her as filver, and search for her as for hid treasures," will understand the facred writings.

4. The holy fcriptures were never defigned to be understood, especially in those things that are most important and excellent, by persons of corrupt minds, whose hearts have no relifh for these things: but do wholly eppose and hate them, and are determined in a course of disobedience to them. It is impoffible indeed, that such fhould understand the fublime holy truths that relate to the infinitely holy God, his holy law, gospel and kingdom. Therefore their not being understood by fuch is no argument that they are not fufficiently plain. It is no evidence that the fun does not shine clear and bright, because they who have no eyes, or if they have, refuse to open them, do not fee the light, and difcern the objects it plainly difcovers. It is abundantly declared in fcripture, that wicked evil men, will not understand the things there revealed. "The wicked know not, neither will they understand: They walk on in darkness*." "Evil men understand not judgment." "The natural man

(that

* Pfalm xxviii. 5.

Prov. xviii. 5.

(that is, the man of a corrupt, carnal mind) receiveth not the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolish unto him: Neither can he know them, because they are fpiritu ally difcerned t." Chrift fays to the Jews, " How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and feek not the honour that cometh from God only*?" And again," If any man will do his will, (that is, has an obedient heart ready to comply with the will of God, when it is made known to him) he fhall know the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I fpeak of myself§." This implies that they who are of a contrary difpofition do not understand and know, which is exprefsly asserted in the following words, "Every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light left his deeds should be reproved. But he that doth truth cometh to the light." Therefore, if the fcriptures be dark and unintelligible to any, especially in the most important matters there revealed, it is not owing to any defect or darkness in them; but the fault is wholly in the perfons themfelves, and they are altogether inexcufeable and criminal, in not seeing what is revealed with fufficient clearness.

5. It can therefore be eafily accounted for, that these facred writings fhould be fo little understood by multitudes, and fo greatly misunderstood by many; and that there should be fo many different and oppofite opinions respecting the doctrines and duties inculcated in the Bible, among those who enjoy this revelation, and profefs to make it their rule. This is not the leaft evidence of any defect in the scriptures, or that they are not sufficiently plain, and in the best manner fuited to give inftruction; but is wholly owing to the criminal blindnefs, corrupt propenfities and unreasonable prejudices of men; who do not attend to the Bible with an honeft heart. It is impoffible that a revelation should be given, that cannot be misunderstood, and perverted

to

+1 Corin. ii. 14. * John, v. 44. § John, vii. 17. ↑ John, iii. 20, 28.