that is good for them-Faith will find food in a desart: Samson, when fainting with hunger, found honey in the carcass of a lion; and Elijah, when hiding from persecution, was fed by ravens: Behold the merciful work of God! You will proceed through a number of beautiful and instructive narrations—almost all, and every thing, having some reference to the truth of the New Testament-till you come to the fulfilment of one part of God's promise to Abraham, viz. the establishment of the Jews as a nation; first under a Theocracy, or the Government of God; and then under that of their own Kings, the first of whom was Saul; who, together with his sons, came to a violent death, in consequence of disobedience to God; Saul was succeeded by David, called "the man after God's own heart;" which appellation ignorant infidels and cavillers have ridiculed, because David committed some very bad actions; but he was called the man after God's own heart, because he

really believed in God, and directed the children of Israel to worship him in the way prescribed to Moses; and did not worship God from mere form or hypocrisy, but from sincerity, and was called the man after God's own heart from being put in comparison with other men who did not act like him, and who were therefore not men after God's own heart: thus we call that man who endeavours to act virtuously a good man, though we know that no man can, properly speaking, be called good, because "all flesh is evil," and there is none good but God." When David cleaved to God he always acted as a good man should do, and God assisted him; but when he let his passions get the better of him, and forgot God, then God left him to rely upon his own strength, and he consequently fell into those sins which he committed against God, and for which he did not escape the most severe punishments; which should teach us all to be humble, and rely upon

God, that we may obtain his assistance to do good, and escape the dreadful punishments of sin, which we shall incur by relying upon our strength, for in such a case we are sure to fall away. To detail all the history of the Old Testament would not come within the compass of my present purpose; I shall therefore only further remark that, in every history or incident you there read, you will find indubitable proofs of the truth of the New Testament; and throughout all the Prophets (of whom there are many, who lived in different ages) predictions concerning the coming of the Messiah, and the reason of his coming, viz. " to save his people from their sins," (i. e. from the consequence of their sins; and his people are all who will believe in him) and you will find all these predictions verified in the most evident and circumstantial manner; which will satisfy you of the undeniable authenticity and truth of the New Testament, upon which depends the whole Christian system; and

of its authenticity none should doubt, since it is thus proved by the Old Testament; and the truth of the Old Testament is proved by the testimony of every thing that is satisfactory to a candid mind; either as regards antiquity of existence, the corroboration of accredited historians in all times (many of whom were enemies to the Jewish religion,) evidences of nature, or standing memorials of circumstances mentioned in the Old Testament; and, in short, by every testimony that reason, and even sceptical subtlety, could require.

You see, then, the necessity of perusing attentively all the Scriptures, and (even when read from curiosity) they will amply repay you; for, independently of their being the organs and oracles of truth and salvation, they contain such excellencies of every kind, that he who can read them without delight can possess neither taste for the sublime and beautiful, true discernment of the graces of truth, nor the effectual spirit of the feelings of humanity.

Read, then, the Scriptures, and, in proportion as you find your delight in reading them increase, you may be assured that your progress in religion is perfecting. The pious Sir Matthew Hale says— "Every day read the Holy Scripture; observe it well; read it reverently and attentively; set your heart upon it; lay it up in your memory; and make it the direction of your life. I have been acquainted with men and books, and I have had long experience in learning and in the world; and I can assure you there is no book like. the Bible for excellent learning, wisdom, and use; and it is want of understanding in those who think or speak otherwise."

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