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and delusive most histories are, through the passions and misapprehensions of historians.

He observes in another place, that not only unt changeableness, but even the impossibility of a change taking place, by any means or accident whatever, is ⚫ an idea that must be affixed to what we call the word ' of God.' Now what is this but asserting without the least proof, that God cannot give a revelation of himself to his creatures? Notwithstanding the imperfections of language, the want of an universal language, the errors of translators, copyists, and printers, &c.; authors make a tolerable shift to communicáte their sentiments to mankind, (some of them even to remote ages and nations,) with little hazard of material mistakes: and cannot the almighty and only wise God do the same?

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Though Mr. P. asserts, that translations of revelation can in no degree be depended on; and thence argues against the Bible:† yet he thinks translations may very well answer the purpose, in respect of natural knowledge, which is his revelation. There is now 'nothing new to be learned from the dead languages: ' all the useful books are translated, and the time ex'pended in teaching and learning them is wasted." but translations may not always be exact, and the knowledge of the original languages is very useful: yet good versions will suffice to afford the unlearned reader a competent knowledge of all that is essential in any book; learned men will give warning to their neigh

P. i. p. 19. † P. i. p. 26.

P.i. p. 37.

bours, if a palpably false translation be palmed upon them, of any work which interests mankind in general; and even the dissentions among christians in this land evince the fairness of our translation of the Scriptures; for all parties commonly refer to it. In like manner, the contests between christians and Jews, and the controversies carried on with real or supposed hereticks, warrant our confidence that these contending parties so watched over one another, as to prevent all material alterations in those books, to which they agreed in making their appeal.

If any christians reject reason in receiving revelation, they act as absurdly, as if a man should put out his eyes, that he may simply avail himself of the light of the sun; instead of putting out his candle as of no further use. Reason should be employed in weighing the evidences, and understanding the meaning, of revelation: and faith itself, in the common affairs of life, constitutes one important exercise of our rational faculties, by which we derive information from testimony, in a variety of cases, with which we could not otherwise be sufficiently acquainted for practical purposes. As far indeed as this exercise of our understanding relates to the testimony of God in scripture, it is so connected with the state of the will and affections, and produces such effects upon our whole conduct: that we, as fallen creatures, are morally incapable of it, with. out the influences of divine grace; and our vain fallible. reasonings, with the conclusions deduced from them, must not be put in competition with the unerring decision of the word of God: nevertheless divine faith is in all respects most reasonable, and one of the high est uses of our rational powers.

Mr. P. seems to consider false revelations, as a proof that there is no true revelation:* but do forged bank-bills prove that no genuine bank-bills exist? Nay, does not common sense deduce the opposite inference? Indeed false revelations could never have obtained credit; if men had not generally deemed a revelation possible, desirable, and even probable. We should then carefully distinguish between the precious and the vile; and not reject all together.

Revelation may be considered as immediate to the person who receives it from the Lord; and mediate, to all that receive it from him to whom it was first communicated. It relates to doctrines, precepts, or facts; and to things past; and present, (in time though invisible to us;) and future, as the day of Judgment and an eternal world. A communication from God of things wholly unknown before, and undiscoverable by other means, is an entirely new revelation: but immediate information concerning things in some measure known before, or discoverable in other ways, is a partial revelation. When new truths were revealed, new ordinances instituted, and material changes in religion introduced; unequivocal miracles were necessary to authenticate them, and to seal the prophet's mission and prove his authority. But where the messenger, though immediately inspired, was only employed to enforce those truths and precepts which had before been divinely attested, miracles were not absolutely necessary; (though they might be very useful in exciting the attention of the people;) for the appeal might

* P. i p. 41.

be made to a preceding authenticated revelation. No apparent miracles can prove the truth of any doctrine, which contradicts the essential principles of a former authenticated revelation: such as JEHOVAH being the one living and true God, the heinousness of idolatry, &c. but the excellent nature and tendency of a doc. trine may be a corroborating evidence of its divine original. These thoughts, however, make way for another subject, which requires a particular consideration.

CHAPTER II.

MIRACLES.

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MR. P. endeavours to confound miracles with monsters, absurdities, impossibilities, or natural uncommon events. No one thing,' says he, is a greater mira'cle than another; an elephant not a greater miracle 'than a mite, a mountain than an atom!' But whoever conceived any of these creatures to be miracles?* The ascension of a balloon, electricity, magnetism, and the recovery of a drowned person, are said to have every thing in them which constitutes 'the idea of a miracle.' Whereas nothing answers the proper idea of a miracle, which well informed persons can account for on natural principles; though it may answer the purpose of impostors in deceiving mankind. Will any man affirm that the miracles, said to have been wrought when Moses waved his rod, can be thus accounted for? What natural efficacy could fill Egypt with frogs, flies, lice, or locusts, exactly at the time when it was foretold they would come? or turn the waters into blood? or cause thick darkness for three days in the whole land, while Goshen enjoyed the light? or destroy in one night all the first-born

* P. i. p. 56, 57.

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