the work itself, as all critics acknowledge that there are, we must confefs that the Scripture history has more of felf-evident truth, than any history in the world.

We further take notice upon may this head, that the practical books of Scripture are written in a plain and fimple style, yet without being flat and infipid: They deliver the weightieft truths in a grave and ferious manner, without an affected fineness, or ftudied periods: They convey into our minds worthy ideas of God, and juft notions of our duty, without defcending to ufelefs fubtilties, or foaring too much above the apprehenfions of the vulgar, which made the writings of the Philofophers of no ufe to far the greater part of mankind. The words of the Lord are pure words, as the Pfalmift fpeaks, i. e. they have none of that drofs or alloy of error or paffion, which infenfibly flides into all human compofures: They deliver divine truths pure and unmixt, tho' in a popular

and

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and inartificial manner of expreffion, and in fuch a way as is worthy of the majesty of God, and yet condefcends to the weakness of the nerality of men.

ge

Some indeed have objected against this plainnefs of the facred writers, as if it had betray'd them into an unbecoming extream, and made them fet down fuch particulars as were not worthy to be taken notice of by a grave and wife hiftorian. But fuch perfons would do well to confider, that when they pafs this cenfure upon particular paffages in holy Writ, they do it by a very imperfect light: for they are not acquainted with all the circumstances and confequents of those particulars, which are but flightly mention'd in Scripture: And they likewife judge of the fmall importance of these matters by fuch notions and opinions as prevail in their own times, without comparing ing them with the fentiments of the. age wherein thofe things were tranfC 6 acted,

acted, or inquiring whether the facred writers might not have fome further profpect in recording fuch matters, than they are aware of. And this, learned men have made out, as to feveral paffages which feem light and inconfiderable, and have fully vindicated the credit and authority of the facred writers against the cavils of this objection (a). It was likewise an opinion receiv'd among the ancient writers, (See Justin Martyr, Dial. c. Tryph. p. 364, 371.) that many of the actions of the patriarchs were typical, or reprefentations of the future ftate of the Church; which notion is very much confirm'd by that paffage in St Paul, Gal. iv. 30. where he fuppofes Abraham's cafting out the bond-woman and her Son out of his houfe, to prefignify the ejecting of the Jews out of the Church of Chrift.

(a) See particularly Dr Allix's Reflexions, Vol. I. Part I. Chap. 13, 15, 16. And Part II. Chap. 20.

Thefe

These objectors would fhew much more candor and impartiality, if they would not pafs fo hafty a cenfure upon fuch paffages of holy Writ, as feem to them liable to exception; but rather say as the Philofopher did when he gave his opinion concerning the writings of Heraclitus, What I understand is excellent; and, I prefume, what I understand not, to be fo

too.

CHA P.

CHA P. III.

An anfwer to another popular objection against the reading of the Scriptures, taken from their obfcurity and fome rules laid down to remedy this difficulty.

A

NOTHER difficulty which difcourages many from reading the Scriptures, is the obfcurity of feveral phrases and paffages therein contain'd, which hinders them from being fo inftructive as books originally written in the vulgar language are; and likewife makes them liable to be perverted and misunderstood ; the confequences of which are fo dangerous, that fome think this alone a fufficient reason why persons of ordinary capacities fhould not be too curious in fearching the Scriptures.