with each other, and may be joined with some truths, and be made to appear plausible, and even consistent with all truth, to a superficial, undiscerning eye, and especially to a mind filled with prejudices against the truth, and real disgust of it. But when these doctrines, or this system of errors, are critically examined by a discerning mind, they will be found to imply gross inconsistencies and contradictions; and a mind thus prejudiced, and disaffected with the great truths of divine rev elation, may view them as inconsistent with reason and with each other, and think he finds innumerable contradictions in the Bible, and consequently reject it, and embrace what appears to him a more consistent, or at least a more pleasing scheme. But nothing is obtained by this but a temporary, pleasing dream and delusion, which, when properly examined, will appear to consist in confusion and self-contradiction, and, if followed in the natural and genuine tendency of it, will land the infidel in total darkness and universal scepticism, the greatest of all contradictions and absurdities. This has been verified by numerous facts in the Christian world, and instances of it are multiplying at this day.

Those doctrines which are inconsistent with the absolute supremacy and independence of God; his omniscience, unchangeableness, and infinite felicity; his infinite wisdom, rectitude, and goodness, must be false doctrines; and all that are connected with them, and follow from them, must be also contrary to the truth, and are an implicit denial of the being of the true God, and inconsistent with any proper acknowledgment of him. The denial of the decrees of God, and that he hath foredained whatsoever comes to pass, and all those doctrines which are implied in this and follow from it, are inconsistent with this true character of God, and, therefore, are false doctrines, and an implicit denial of the being of the only true God, and inconsistent with all true piety, and, if followed in their true consequences, will lead to universal scepticism, darkness, and delusion.

Those tenets relating to human liberty, and that moral agency of man necessary in order to render him capable of virtue or vice, praise or blame, which are inconsistent with the decrees of God fixing all events and all the actions of men, are inconsistent with the divine character, and even with the existence of God; are inconsistent with the Holy Scripture, and are inconsistent with themselves, implying self-contradiction, and the greatest absurdity; which, it is supposed, has been in some measure made manifest in the foregoing work. And without mentioning more particulars, it is left to the candid, considerate reader to examine every doctrine which has

been proposed in this view; and it is presumed that he will find the whole, and especially all the leading sentiments, not only consistent with each other, but with the being, perfections, and character of God, revealed in the Scripture; and that no other scheme of doctrine can be consistent with these, or with itself, but tends to infidelity, and to remove all important religious truth: and if so, and he be disposed to receive the truth in the love of it, his mind will by this be more established in the truth, and know it, and that no lie is of the truth, but that this is the true God and eternal life. (1 John ii. 21; v. 20.) And the farther he proceeds in the line of truth, and the more clear and comprehensive view he obtains of it, the greater will be his confidence and assurance that this is the only system of doctrines which is agreeable to the divine perfections, the Word of God, and with itself, and that these are the doctrines which are according to godliness; and the greater satisfaction and joy will he have in contemplating, loving, and obeying them.

III. It appears from the whole of the foregoing, that it is of great importance that the doctrines and truths contained in divine revelation should be understood, believed, and loved; that this is necessarily implied in the exercise and practice of true religion, without which there is no salvation.

If this were not important and necessary, there would be little or no need of a divine revelation. This is a revelation of a system of truth and of duty, the foundation and reason of which is the revealed truth, and all obedience consists in knowing, loving, and obeying the truth; therefore, were there no doctrines, no truth and articles of faith revealed, no duty or obedience could be enjoined or known. The Bible reveals a system of truth. It reveals the being and character of God; his works and designs; the state and character of man; the person and character of the Redeemer; his work and designs, and the way of salvation by him; what God does, and what man must be and do, in order to his salvation. The Bible opens the invisible world to men, and sets before them the great, important truths relating to the invisible, eternal kingdom of Christ; and there cannot be one exercise of piety or charity, or any duty of either of these performed by any man, unless it be in the view of those revealed truths, or in conformity to them.

The Holy Scripture, therefore, represents the knowledge and belief of the truth as necessary to salvation; that faith, without which men cannot be saved, is "the belief of the truth." "He that believeth shall be saved." This supposes some truth to be believed; and what can this be but the truths of the

gospel, the truth to which Christ came to bear witness? Were there no revealed truths, there would be nothing to be believed; no objects of faith; for faith is a belief of the truth. Surely none will say saving faith consists in believing nothing, or in believing a lie! Christ speaks of the knowledge of the truth as necessary in order to salvation, and peculiar to his followers. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John vii. 17.) "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John viii. 32.) "Sanctify

"Till

them through thy truth; thy word is truth." (John xvii. 17.) "When the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John xvi. 13.) The apostle Paul represents the great design of the gospel to be, to bring Christians to a union in knowledge and faith, or a belief and practice of truth. we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Eph. iv. 14, 15.) He speaks of the doctrine which is according to godliness, as necessary to be known and obeyed by every Christian. (1 Tim. vi. 3.) He directs Timothy to "hold fast the form of sound words," which he had heard of him. (2 Tim. i. 13.) By the form of sound words, nothing can be meant but the system of gospel doctrines which the apostle taught, and in which he had instructed Timothy; and he was to hold fast those sound words, those wholesome, important, solid truths, by meditating upon them, and maintaining and preaching them; which is the same with holding and preaching sound doctrines, and being sound in the faith, which he repeatedly mentions.

And the knowledge and belief of the truth revealed in the Bible is so important and essential to a Christian, that all Christian practice is denoted by obeying the truth. "Obeying from the heart the form of doctrine which has been delivered to them." (Rom. vi. 17.) Doing the truth, and walking in the truth." (John iii. 21. 3 John 4.) And Christians are exhorted to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3.) The faith which had been delivered to the church can be nothing but the system of doctrines contained in divine revelation; the truths implied and exhibited in the gospel, which were to be believed and maintained by Christians. The apostle Paul, in all his epistles,

shows how important the doctrines and truths of the gospel are, and the necessity of their being understood and embraced, in order to be saved; that the gospel consists essentially in these, which, therefore, is overthrown and destroyed, by embracing and promoting the opposite errors. Christ says to Pilate, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." (John xviii. 37.) By the truth, here, is not meant one particular truth, but all the truths and doctrines of divine revelation; the system of truth in which the gospel consists. This sets the importance of the doctrines of the gospel, and the necessity of understanding, believing, and practising them, in a striking light. For to oppose, or neglect and live in ignorance of these, is to oppose or slight that which Christ came into the world to establish and promote. If the doctrines of the gospel be rejected, or overlooked and not understood, the only foundation of Christian faith and practice is removed, and there remains nothing to be believed, and no duty to be done.

Hence it appears how contrary to reason and Scripture, and to common sense, that position is, which has been espoused and maintained by many, either expressly or by implication, viz. that it is of no importance what men believe, or whether they believe the truths contained in divine revelation or not, if their external conduct be regular and good. This position is of the most dangerous and evil tendency; for it wholly sets the gospel aside, and excludes that as altogether needless, which Christ says he came into the world to establish and promote. According to this, it is of no importance whether Christians act from principle or not, or from what principle they act, if they act from any; or whether they believe or understand one truth contained in the gospel, or disbelieve and reject all. This makes all creeds and confessions of faith, or bearing witness to the truth, entirely useless and vain; and according to this, no candidate for admission into a church or to the work of the ministry ought to be examined as to his understanding and knowledge, or belief of any doctrine contained in divine revelation, as any qualification necessary in order to his being admitted; for however ignorant he may be of the principles of Christ, or whatever he believes, he may be as good a Christian, and as fit for an officer and teacher in the church, as any other person whatever.

And the directions and commands which the apostle Paul gave to Timothy and Titus, respecting the sound doctrines of the gospel, were highly improper; or, at least, are out of date Such are the following: "I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, that thou mightest charge some that they teach

now.

no other doctrine. Take heed to thyself and to thy doctrine. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. The things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (1 Tim. i. 3; iv. 16; vi. 3, 4. 2 Tim. i. 13; ii. 2.) "A bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince gainsayers, whose mouths must be stopped. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity; sound speech that cannot be condemned." (Tit. i. 7, 9, 11, 13; ii. 1, 7, 8.)

The consequence and evil tendency of the sentiment now under consideration appears from fact. That which is now called liberality of sentiment and catholicism, which is spreading far and wide, and is celebrated by multitudes as a most excellent, noble way of thinking, has its foundation in this. This liberality and catholicism discards all attachment to any particular system of truth, or belief of any distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, as useless and hurtful, and holds that it is no matter what a man's religious creed or practice is, or whether he regards any, or not; as he may be a good man, and go to heaven without any thing of this kind. This really renounces the Bible, and paves the way to infidelity; and this leads on to the darkness and horrors of atheism itself.

IV. From the foregoing system of truths and duties, which is contained in the Bible, and taken wholly from it, arises the most clear and satisfying evidence that it is a revelation from God, and no human invention; "but holy men of God have spoken and written it, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

The evidence that the Bible contains a divine revelation has been in some measure exhibited and considered in the first chapter of this system, especially what is called the external evidence. And some of the internal evidence was mentioned, and it was observed, that this would be made to appear in the clearest and most advantageous light, by prosecuting the inquiry concerning the doctrines and duties revealed and inculcated in this book, which was then proposed. This is now finished; and upon a careful review of the whole, must it not