VI. The tendency of the Scripture constitutes another unanswerable proof. Did all men believe and obey the Bible as a divine revelation, to what conduct would it lead them? and what would be the effect on society? Surely repentance, and renunciation of all vice and immorality, when connected with the spiritual worship of God in his ordinances, faith in his mercy and truth through the mediation of his Son, and all the fruits of the Holy Spirit, as visible in the life of every true believer, would form such characters, and produce such effects, as the world hath never yet witnessed. Men would then universally do justice, speak truth, show mercy, exercise mutual forgiveness, follow after peace, bridle their appetites and passions, and lead sober, righteous, and godly lives. Murders, wars, bitter contentions, cruel oppressions, and unrestrained licentiousness, would no more desolate the world, and fill it with misery but righteousness, goodness, and truth, would bless the earth with a felicity exceeding all our present conceptions. This is, no doubt, the direct tendency of the Scriptural doctrines, precepts, motives, and promises: nothing is wanting to remedy the state of the world, and to fit men for the worship and felicity of heaven, but that they should believe and obey the Scriptures. And if many

enormous crimes have been committed under colour of zeal for Christianity; it only proves the depravity of man's heart for the Scripture, soberly understood, most expressly forbids such practices; and men do not act thus, because they duly regard it, but because they will not believe and obey it.

The tendency of these principles is exhibited in the characters there delineated: whilst the consistency between the doctrines and precepts of Scripture, and the actions of men recorded in it, implies another argument of its divine original. Ungodly men are characterized, and their ac tions are recited, according to the abstract account given of human nature, and believers are represented as conducting themselves exactly in that manner, which the principles of the Bible might have led us to expect. They had like

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passions with other men; but they were habitually restrained and regulated by the fear and love of God, and by other holy affections. Their general conduct was good, but not perfect; and sometimes their natural proneness to evil broke out, and made way for bitter repentance and deeper humiliation so that they appear constantly to have perceived their need of forgiveness and divine assistance; to have expected their felicity from the rich mercy of God; and, instead of abusing that consideration, to have thence deduced motives for gratitude, zeal, patience, meekness, and love to mankind.

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But one character is exhibited, in the simplest and most unaffected manner, which is perfection itself. Philosophers, Orators, and Poets, in their several ways, have bestowed immense pains to describe the character of some man, in such a manner that no fault could be found in it: and they have given us complete models of their own estimate of excellence, and sufficient proof that they laboured the point to the utmost of their ability. But the four evangelists, whose divine inspiration is now frequently doubted on the most frivolous pretences, without sceming to think of it, have done that which all other writers have failed in. They have shown us a perfect human character, by recording facts, without making any comment on them, or showing the least ingenuity in the arrangement of them. They have given the history of one, whose spirit, words, and actions, were in every particular what they ought to have been! who always did the very thing which was proper, and in the best manner imaginable! who never once deviated from the most consummate wisdom, purity, benevolence, compassion, meekness, humility, fortitude, patience, piety, zeal, or any other excellency! and who in no instance let one virtue or holy disposition entrench on another, but exercised them all in entire harmony, and exact proportion! This subject challenges investigation, and sets infidelity at defiance! Either these four men exceeded, in genious and capacity, all other writers that ever lived; or they wrote under the guidance of divine in

spiration for without labour or affection they have performed what hath baffled all others, who have set themselves purposely to establish it *. This is a fact which cannot be denied: no perfect character is elsewhere delineated, and probably no mere man could have drawn one; no person would have thought of such a character as that of Jesus; yet no flaw or fault can be found in it: this alone I apprehend, and their entire consistency in this respect with each other, demonstrates that the evangelists wrote under the guidance of the Holy spirit.

It hath often been observed, that Satan would never have influenced men to write the Bible; for then he would have been divided against himself: wicked men would not have penned a book, which so awfully condemned their whole conduct and good men would never have ascribed their own investigations to divine inspiration; especially as such forgeries are most severely reprobated in every part of it. But indeed, it is a work as much exceeding every effort of mere men, as the Sun surpasses those scanty illuminations, by which his splendour is imitated, or his absence supplied.

VII. The actual effects, produced by the Scriptures, evince their divine original. These are indeed far from being equal to their tendency; because, through human depravity, the gospel is not generally believed and obeyed : yet they are very considerable; and we may assert that even at present there are many thousands, who have been reclaimed from profane and immoral courses to sobriety, equity, truth, and piety, and to a good behaviour in relative life, by attending to the sacred Scriptures. Having been "made free from sin, and become the servants of God, they "have their fruit unto holiness ;" and after "patiently "continuing in well doing," and cheerfully bearing various afflictions, they joyfully meet death, being supported by the hope of eternal life "as the gift of God through Je"sus Christ:" whilst they, who best know them, are most

*The author's answer to Paine's Age of Reason, p. 81.

convinced, that they have been rendered wiser, holier, and happier, by believing the Bible; and that there is a reality in religion, though various instances and passions may keep them from duly embracing it. There are indeed enthusiasts also; but they become such by forsaking the old rule of faith and duty, for some new fancy: and there are hypocrites; but they attest the reality and excellency of religion, by deeming it worth their while to counterfeit it.

VIII. Brevity is so connected with fulness in the Scriptures, that they are a treasure of divine knowledge which can never be exhausted. The things, that are absolutely necessary to salvation, are few, simple, and obvious to the meanest capacity, provided it be attended by an humble teachable disposition: but the most learned, acute, and diligent student cannot in the longest life obtain an entire knowledge of this one volume. The deeper he works the mine, the richer and more abundant he finds the ore; new light continually beams from this source of heavenly knowledge, to direct his conduct, and illustrate the works of God, and the ways of men; and he will at last leave the world confessing, that the more he studied the Scriptures, the fuller conviction he had of his own ignorance and of their inestimable value.

IX. Lastly, "He that believeth hath the witness in him"self." The discoveries which he hath made by the light of the Scripture; the experience he hath had, that the Lord fulfils its promises to those who trust in them; the abiding effects produced by attending to it, on his judgment, dispositions, and affections; and the earnests of heaven enjoyed by him in communion with God, put the matter beyond all doubt: and though many believers are not qualified to dispute against infidels, they are enabled, through this inward testimony, to obey, and suffer for, the gospel; and they can no more be convinced by reasonings and objections, that men invented the Bible, than they can be persuaded, that men created the Sun, whose light they behold, and by whose beams they are cheered.

And now, if an objector could fully invalidate one half

or two thirds, of these arguments, (to which many more might be easily added,) the remainder would be abundantly sufficient-Nay, perhaps, any one of them so far decides the question, that were there no other proof of the Bible's being the word of God, a man could not reject it, without acting in opposition to those dictates of common sense, which direct his conduct in his secular affairs-But in reality, I have a confidence that not one of these proofs can be fairly answered; at least it has never yet been done : and the combined force of the whole is so great, that the objections, by which men cavil against the truth, only resemble the foaming waves dashing against the deep rooted rock, which hath for ages defied their unavailing fury. But though these can effect nothing more, they may beat off the poor shipwrecked mariner, who was about to ascend it, in hopes of deliverance from impending destruction.

The consequences of our present conduct, according to the Scriptures, are so vast, that if there were only a bare possibility of their truth, it would be madness to run the risk of rejecting them, for the sake of gaining the whole world: What then is it, when we have such unanswerable demonstrations that they are the word of God, and cannot reasonably doubt of it for a moment, to disobey the commands and neglect the salvation revealed in it, for the veriest trifle that can be proposed to us! Especially, as it may be shown that, (besides the eternal consequences,) the firm belief of the Scriptures, and that conscientious obedience which true faith always produces, will render a man happier in this present life, even amidst trials and self denying services, than any other man can be made, by all the pomp, pleasure, wealth, power, and honour, which the world can bestow on him!