age and hiftory of mankind. We have no credible record of more than fix thousand years' from the present time. The pretenfions of the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, the Phoenicians, or the Chinese, are decidedly unfounded. The extravagance of the Hindoo chronology has been shewn by one well qualified to judge. Thus then we have on our fide confiftence and demonstration. The oppofite opinions poffefs neither.

: From natural let us proceed to moral philo-: fophy. The origin of physical evil has occafioned much inquiry; and with the Scriptures on this head fcepticism is much diffatisfied. That the state of human nature is altogether frail and corrupt is undeniable; and to account for this the moft abfurd and extravagant fyftems have been framed, and especially in the various modifications of the oriental philosophy; a philofophy, no lefs productive of confufion to the ancient world, than of injury · to the Christian religion. The Scriptures attribute the depravity of the human heart to original fin, incurred by the tranfgreffion of the first man; but objectors will not admit, that the goodnefs of God would fuffer the": tranfgreffion of one man to bring mifery on: the whole of his fubfequent race. Such a per

miffion, according to their ideas, is incompatible with the acknowledged attributes of divine beneficence. Let us not however attempt to penetrate into thofe hidden myfteries, which are too intricate for human understanding, but which are confirmed by fact and experience. In fuch speculations men pursue the fame erroneous plan which they adopt in all their inquiries concerning revealed religion. They measure infinity by limited means. The whole may be reduced to a fimple ftatement. Death is the lot of all mankind. Evil does exist. Sin and death have entered into the world together, and reign over our mortal bodies. For the introduction of moral turpitude, reafon has never been able to account. Is there then more difficulty in supposing that these existing calamities were produced by the tranfgreffion of the first man, than by any other cause? The facts cannot be difputed; and if their ori gin be deemed as incompatible with our ideas of the mercy of God, the fame objection will be in force in whatever way we attempt to reconcile them. It is equally extraordinary and. unaccountable to us, that this our present state should be befet by fuch evils. The objection is to its introduction; and the doubt can only be, how far such an admiffion be reconcileable

to the goodness of the Creator. That God is perfect, that he is infinitely wife and merciful, is undeniable. None of the objectors have been yet able to devise any scheme which is fo fatisfactory as that which we derive from revelation, and we are better pleased to rely on God, than on man; who, if revelation be not true, has nothing to substitute in its place. To those who bufy themselves in unprofitable researches, we muft fay, Canft thou by fearching find out God? canft thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canft thou do? deeper than hell; what canft thou know a ?

If we proceed to confider the doctrines revealed in the Mofaic difpenfation, we find them perfectly agreeable to the best ideas which have ever been entertained of the per→ fections of the Deity. All history, all fact, all experience, fhew us, that the propensity of mankind to idolatry, originating doubtless from natural ignorance and depravity, has been exceffive, univerfal, and incorrigible; and from this extravagant propensity no nation has ever been free; not even the Jews themselves. For though God Almighty was pleafed to work

a Job xi. 7, 8.

fucceffive miracles to display his power, and to keep them, if poffible, conftant to their duty; yet all those manifeftations of power, all threats, all promises, were often ineffectual. They could not be reftrained from falling occafionally into the univerfal error; and yet the philofopher has been fond of extolling the dignity of human nature. Nothing is however more probable, and indeed we have a demonstration on our fide, that, had not God been pleased, by revelation to earlier ages, to keep a fenfe of his perfections alive, mankind never would have entertained worthy or true notions of him and of his attributes, antecedent to the coming of Chrift; and had Chrift not come, they would not even to the present day. It is evident therefore, that whatever degree of knowledge of this kind the world has entertained, is altogether to be attributed to revelation. To the philofophers of many centuries before Christ the suggestions of natural religion were a light; and some of the principles of revelation were transmitted to the Pagan world by the traditions of the patriarchs. Nothing is more difficult than to trace the origin and progrefs of ideas. Men are often fond of attributing to their own sagacity, and their own invention, the accidental

acquifitions derived from a foreign stock. The knowledge of a God of infinite goodness and perfection having moft probably by fome primitive revelation gone forth, was easily communicated, and would in an imperfect degree be intermixed with the general fentiment of mankind; especially as they had, according to the affertion of St. Paul, a law of confcience written in their hearts. Thus it appears to have been the fcheme of Providence, that all: his difcoveries and intimations to men fhould be gradual. Traditions were indiftinctly opened; then was proclaimed the first covenant, then fucceeded prophecy, by degrees more and more complete and intelligible, till the whole beautiful arrangement was developed; till the Day Spring from on high gradually increasing, burft forth into the meridian fplendor of the Sun of righteousness. None of the ancient systems of philofophy have given a clear or diftinct account of the one true God, or his attributes. Now the certainty of this alone is of the highest importance to mankind. If we examine the declaration of the Mofaic difpensation relative to the fupreme Being, conveyed in all the instructions to the children of Ifrael, and all the interpofitions and revelations of God, we perceive fuch exalted intimations,