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their own conduct so entirely as the Bible does-a book so inimitably pure, and full of such excellent, holy, and benevolent precepts as the Bible uniformly contains. If, there fore, they cannot with propriety be associated with characters of this description, it then of course follows, that we must, as the only alternative, acknowledge that they were good men: and this acknowledgment unavoidably involves the truth and divine authority of the book which they have written. There can be no goodness, when truth is wanting. If, therefore, they were good men, they must consequently be true men; and on this principle, the testimony which they have given that they wrote the Bible by the special direction and authority of God, we are in reason bound to believe. But if the truth of this conclusion be denied, we are then by necessity obliged to admit, that instead of being true and good men, they were a set of wicked, lying impostors, such as the world has never seen, either before or since: a supposition which it is utterly impossible to reconcile with the various characteristic marks of truth which are contained in their writings.

4. The majority of the writers of the Bible were men in ordinary situations in life, especially the writers of the New Testament. Originally they were only common mechanics, possessed of no extraordinary abilities, and in general destitute of the benefits which arise from a learned education. Now if they were not, according to their own testimony, authorized by God to write the sacred Scriptures, it then follows, by a counter parity of reasoning, that they were a company of wicked lying impostors. But by this supposition we are brought into a most inexplicable dilemma, i. e. we are necessitated, on this principle, to acknowledge, that these wicked, lying impostors, although they naturally possessed no extraordinary abilities, and enjoyed no superior acquired advantages, have nevertheless composed and written a book, containing a most perfect and complete system of morals-which is without defect-evinces a correct and universal ac

quaintance with mankind—is infinitely superior to all the productions and most elaborate works of the most learned philosophical men who ever wrote on the subject, and which has been productive of the most wonderful and astonishing effects in the reformation of mankind, so far as they have received and submitted to its precepts. This conclusion, therefore, which is the necessary consequence arising from the supposition that the Bible is an imposition, is so absurd and unreasonable, that it is utterly unworthy of an attempt to refute it. But these (otherwise inexplicable) difficulties are all reconciled, and its superiority and excellence at once accounted for, if we acknowledge its divine authority, and assent to the testimony of its writers, that it came not by the will of men, but that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The man who admits of this conclusion, who seeks the assistance of divine grace-who submits his understanding to its instructions, bows his will to its precepts, and submits his judgment to its directionwill not be left to remain in darkness and doubt as to the truth of its claims; he will, according to its promise (1 John v. 10.), soon have " the witness in himself," and find, by happy experience, that it is able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. iii. 15.)

PART II.

THE HISTORICAL AND AUXILIARY EVIDENCES

FOR THE

DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE,

AND

THE PREPONDERANCY OF THESE EVIDENCES TO ANY OF A
SIMILAR NATURE WHICH CAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD
IN SUPPORT OF THE CLAIMS

OF THE

Hindoo Shasters.

IN the preceding part of this work, I have, according to

the first of the two rules which at the commencement I brought forward as the principles of the investigation about to be entered upon, instituted a comparison between the Bible and the Hindoo Shasters, and by the application of this rule to the contents of each, endeavoured to ascertain the truth or falsehood of their respective claims. I shall now proceed to examine, in the following chapters, according to rule 2d, The credibility of the witnesses by whom the divine authority of the Christian Scriptures is attested; and by continuing the comparison as before, endeavour not only to shew the solid evidence from miracles, prophecy, &c. on which the truth of the Bible rests, but at the same time endeavour to prove, on account of their deficiency of this evidence, the falsehood of those claims which the Hindoo Shasters make to the same high and undisputed authority.

F

CHAPTER I.

OF MIRACLES.

Principles of the Argument derived from Miracles.

Miracles are events which occur contrary to the esta blished order of nature, and cannot, as they are above the power of natural causes, be attributed to them. They can in fact only be wrought by the power and immediate interposition of God; and therefore, as is evident from observation, are not events of daily occurrence, or such as men have any reason ordinarily or frequently to expect. God, however, whenever he sees proper, can, according to circumstances, display his power in working, or causing such miracles to be wrought by the hands of his servants; but in cases of such extraordinary divine interposition, it is always reasonable to suppose that there is some great, wise, and holy end, worthy of the character and attributes of God to be effected. Without this we have no reason to expect his interposition; nor ought any credit to be attached to any statements or assertions which men make to the display of such power in miraculous interferences, unless they can prove that the interposition stated was to effect some important and benevolent purpose. But if the end to be accomplished be worthy of the high character of God, and connected with the general welfare of mankind, and if miracles be in any measure requisite for the accomplishment of that end, we may in that case rather suppose that they would, than that they would not be wrought. On the ground, therefore, of this principle, I hesitate not to assert the truth of the miracles recorded in the New Testament; and to say, that the religion therein revealed, and which they were wrought to confirm, is worthy of all acceptation; i. e. these miracles are in ac'cordance with the character and attributes of God. The end designed to be effected by them was the general wel

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