to God be, with respect to truth in general; if we apply it to the cause of religion, of christianity in particular, we shall find it no lefs beneficial and neceffary.

ALTHOUGH the two great articles of natural religion, the fuperintendence of God, and our accountableness to him, are the foundation of the principle itself, yet are there many other points relating both to these and others, which are fubjects of inquiry, demand labour, and afford trials of impartiality. And as the perfon we have been fpeaking of is already convinced of the attention which is due to the cause of truth in general; influenced by such a motive, he can never think it a matter of indifference, in what light he confiders thofe truths in particular, which more immediately affect the object of his duty.

HERE

HERE then he will be careful to lay well the foundation of his religion, and not be likely to fall into any confiderable mistake; much lefs the fatal one of imagining revelation either impoffible or unneceffary: yet he will think, and with juftice, that what pretends to fo high a character, as the exprefs will of the Deity, addressed to reafonable beings, muft come attended by fufficient vouchers to establish its claims. This conducts him to the examination of the evidence of christianity: and his principle of action begets in him patience, fufficient to make a thorough inquiry, and fairnefs to examine well all fides of the queftion, before he allows himself to determine against fo important a point.

WHAT the refult of an inquiry upon this fubject, thus undertaken and carried on, muft naturally be, need not be mentioned in this place; or if it need, I fhall not be

thought

to God be, with respect to truth in general; if we apply it to the cause of religion, of christianity in particular, we shall find it no lefs beneficial and neceffary.

ALTHOUGH the two great articles of natural religion, the fuperintendence of God, and our accountableness to him, are the foundation of the principle itself, yet are there many other points relating both to these and others, which are fubjects of inquiry, demand labour, and afford trials of impartiality. And as the perfon we have been speaking of is already convinced of the attention which is due to the cause of truth in general; influenced by fuch a motive, he can never think it a matter of indifference, in what light he confiders those truths in particular, which more immediately affect the object of his duty.

HERE

HERE then he will be careful to lay well the foundation of his religion, and not be likely to fall into any confiderable mistake; much lefs the fatal one of imagining revelation either impoffible or unneceffary: yet he will think, and with justice, that what pretends to fo high a character, as the exprefs will of the Deity, addressed to reafonable beings, muft come attended by fufficient vouchers to establish its claims. This conducts him to the examination of the evidence of chriftianity: and his principle of action begets in him patience, fufficient to make a thorough inquiry, and fairness to examine well all fides of the queftion, before he allows himself to determine against fo important a point.

WHAT the refult of an inquiry upon this fubject, thus undertaken and carried on, muft naturally be, need not be mentioned in this place; or if it need, I fhall not be

thought

thought unwarranted to declare, without any further examination, that it must be the firmeft and fulleft perfuafion of the truth of the gospel.

BUT here another moft extenfive field opens before him, perhaps more befet with dangers, and fuller of perplexities than any he has hitherto trodden. After the au

thority of revelation is established, the next ftep is to confider its meaning.

THE holy fcripture, in which it is contained, may be confidered in two points of view, as being in fome parts naturally obfcure and difficult; and in fome, though not fo originally, as having been rendered fo, fince its promulgation, by various accidental circumstances.

To proceed with fteadinefs, and without prejudice, through fo many obftacles, which

the