Teftament, whether the New Teftament was written by divine infpiration or not; becaufe figures of Speech are not a proper foundation to build doctrines of importance upon, efpecially when those doctrines are plainly repugnant to the moft plain and evident principles of reafon, which is the present cafe.

But to return to my readers. Sirs, I beseech you to be upon your guard, and examine carefully and attentively whatever is offered to your confideration; because, now, oppofition is made from all quarters to those truths that are of the utmost concern to your present and future well being. When the queftion was put, Who fhall perfwade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead? And one faid on this manner, and another faid on that manner. There came forth a fpirit, and flood before the Lord, and faid, I will perfwade him. And the Lord faid unto him, Wherewith? And he faid, I

will go forth, and I will be a lying Spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. 1 Kings xxii. 20, 21, 22. How far this is applicable to our times, I fhall not enquire, but only obferve to you, that Chriftians are not more fecure from falfe prophets or teachers than were the Jews; otherwise St John would not have given the following caution · to them. 1 John iv. 1. Beloved, believe not every Spirit, every prophet or teacher, but try them all whether they be of God or not; because many falfe prophets or teachers are gone out into the world. I will therefore recommend to, and leave with you the wholesome and excellent advice given by St John, 1 John iii. 7. Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doth righteoufness is righteous, even as be is righteous. Which is the fame as if the Apostle had said, beware that you be not deceived in an affair of fuch importance; for he that doth righteoufnefs, and be only, is righteous

in God's account, and fo far, and to that degree that he is fo; and not he who foolishly and vainly hopes to stand in the righteousness of another; this will not take with the righteous judge of all the earth. The righteous Lord, or that Lord who governs his whole conduct by the ftricteft rules of right and wrong, he loveth righteoufness, or he loveth those agents who act from the fame principles, and govern their minds and lives by the fame righteous rules that himself does. These are the proper objects of love, and their being fo is the ground or reafon of God's love to them, and not something that is lovely in the perfon of another. Were God to love one agent, for what is perfonally valuable in another, or were he to afflict one agent, for what is perfonally difpleafing in another, he would forfit his character as a righteous being; he would ceafe to be that righteous Lord who loveth righteousness, and

who

who favourably beboldeth the upright in heart. It is the exercife of wifdom, righteousnefs, and goodness, in the creation and government of the world, which conftitute the beauti ful character of our heavenly Father; and it is the exercise of these, and these only, which conftitute us his beloved children, and which render us approvable in his fight; and every thing' beside these are falfe or counterfeit coin, as not having the ftamp of reafon and truth upon them. This is what I would leave upon your minds, as it is a matter of the utmost concern to you.

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ΑΝ

ΑΝ

ENQUIRY

INTO THE

GROUND and FOUNDATION

O F

RELIGION.

W

HEN we behold the bold attempts, the dauntless courage, the indefatigable industry, the firm and unfhaken refolution, the great attainments, the vast discoveries, the extensive knowledge, the ftrict fidelity, the impartial juftice, the agreeable modefty, temperance, and prudence, and, as it were, the boundless generofity and benevolence, and the like, of fome of our fpecies, it gives one fuch a beautiful picture of human nature, as very naturally leads one to think that man was defigned for, and prepared to understand the most fublime and useful truths, to undertake and execute the best and most noble defigns, and to be governed by the most perfect rule of action. But alas! when we fee this affair in another light, that is, when we behold the great indolence and B floth,