THE DIVINE LEGATION OF MOSES DEMONSTRATED. BOOKS I. II. III. ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΟΝ ΤΟΥΣ ΟΦΘΑΛΜΟΥΣ ΜΟΥ, ΚΑΙ ΚΑΤΑΝΟΗΣΩ ΤΑ ΘΑΥΜΑΣΙΑ ΕΚ ΤΟΥ ΝΟΜΟΥ ΣΟΥ.-PSAL. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST THREE BOOKS OF THE DIVINE LEGATION OF MOSES; 1738. THE following sheets make the first volume of a work, designed to prove the DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE JEWISH RELIGION. As the author was neither indebted, nor engaged to the public, he hath done his readers no injury in not giving them more; and had they not had this, neither he nor they, perhaps, had esteemed themselves losers. For writing for no party, it is likely he will please none; and begging no protection, it is more likely he will find none: and he must have more of the confidence of a modern writer than falls to his share, to think of making much way with the feeble effort of his own reason. Writers, indeed, have been oft betrayed into strange absurd conclusions, from I cannot tell what obsolete claim, which letters have to the patronage of the great: a relation, if indeed there ever were any, long since worn out and forgotten; the great now seeming reasonably well convinced, that it had never any better foundation than the rhetorical importunity of beggars. But however this claim of patronage may be understood, there is another of a more important nature; which is the patronage of religion. The author begs leave to assure those who have no time to spare from their attention on the public, that the protection of religion is indispensably necessary to all governments; and for his warrant he offers them the following volume; which endeavours to show the necessity of religion in general, and of the doctrine of a future state in particular, to civil society, from the nature of things and the universal consent of mankind. The proving this, I make no question, many politicians will esteem sufficient: but those who are solicitous to have religion true as well as useful, the author will endeavour to satisfy in the following volumes. THE DIVINE LEGATION OF MOSES DEMONSTRATED. BOOK I. SECT. I. THE writers, in defence of revealed religion, distinguish their arguments into two sorts: the one they call the INTERNAL, and the other the EXTERNAL evidence. Of these, the first is, in its nature, more simple and perfect; and even capable of demonstration: while the other, made up of very dissimilar materials, and borrowing aid from without, must needs have some parts of unequal strength with the rest; and, consequently, lie open to the attacks of a willing adversary. Besides, the internal evidence is, by its nature, perpetuated; and so fitted for all ages and occasions: while the external, by length of time, weakens and decays. For the nature and genius of the religion defended affording the proofs of the first kind, these materials of defence are inseparable from its existence; and so throughout all ages the same. But time may, and doth, efface memorials independent of that existence; out of which the external evidence is composed: which evidence must therefore become more and more imperfect, without being affected by that whimsical and partial calculation, to which a certain Scotchman* would subject it. Nay, of such use is the internal evidence, that, even the Craig, Theologice Christ. Principia Mathematica, London, 1699, 4to. + This gradual weakening of the external evidence hath in fact actually happened; and was occasioned by the loss of several ancient testimonies, both Pagan and Christian, for the truth of revelation; which learned men, on several occasions, have frequently lamented. This is the only way, I suppose, the external evidence can weaken.-As it is |